2021 SEASON PREVIEW: Georgia’s building itself into a 2021 favorite

 

 

If I’m a betting man, I make Georgia the favorite to win the SEC.

Yes, there is the injury to George Pickens, its best wide receiver.

OFFENSE

But the Bulldogs have the most talented QB in the SEC (in experience, anyway) in JT Daniels, they still have a dynamite WR combo in Kearis Jackson and Jermaine Burton, and a filthy running back in Zamir White. The offensive line’s as stacked as you can get….and there are five-stars all over the field.

Not only that, but Kirby Smart managed to get a ultra-talented former Clemson DB Derion Kendrick, and if Kendrick doesn’t repeat his behaviour at Clemson, where he was booted after police found him passed out in a car with an unlicensed gun lying on him and a bag of weed in the car, then he will be exceptional.

Also, he’s signed sought-after TE Arik Gilbert, who first decided he was going to Florida, and then opted for somewhere closer in The Classic City.

I suspect that the SEC will follow the rest of the Power-5 conferences in allowing transferred players to play immediately after transferring. That’s because it’s in their best interests to let players come aboard and play for as many years as they can. Otherwise, a player could come aboard, look good for the TV for a 2 or 3 games, and then decide to opt for the NFL Draft. And you know who wins? Absolutely nobody (and if that player doesn’t make the first three rounds, he’s probably wasted his time, too!).

And if that happens, then Gilbert becomes an excellent weapon for the Bulldogs.

AND THE DEFENSE?

Don’t get us wrong – they are really going to miss defensive leader Azeez Oljuari (NFL), but top tackler LB Nakobe Dean is back, as is top DT Jordan Davis having eschewed NFL riches for another go at college. Derion Kendrick, a former five-star CB at Clemson who was booted for a variety of stupid actions, comes into Athens with a lot to prove. That could shore up the secondary, which is going to be without leader and motorcycle specialist Richard LeCounte.

ALSO HELPING IS….

THE SCHEDULE

Clemson (Neutral)

UAB (H)

South Carolina (H)

Vanderbilt (A)

Arkansas (H)

Auburn (A)

Kentucky (H)

Florida (Neutral)

Missouri (A)

Tennessee (A)

Charleston Southern (H)

Georgia Tech (A)

Georgia is very lucky in that although they are playing Clemson on the first game of the year, the Tigers are out-of-conference, and a loss there won’t really mean anything for either team.

But apart from that – and I know this sounds a little like “Apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?” – the schedule is very doable.

if they beat Clemson, they’ll go into Auburn as the No.1-rated team in the country at 6-0. Auburn still won’t know what Auburn is by then, because it’s Auburn.

In the SEC, the SEC East features a Florida which is still trying to work itself out at quarterback, and in the SEC West, their annual battle with Auburn widll feature an opponent that – let’s face it – isn’t that good. And nor is Arkansas.

And of course, we know that Alabama will be waiting there. Alabama will probably run through the league, but there’s always the possibility that they might still be working themselves out by the SEC Championship Game, because they won’t have played anyone as talented until then.

They will then run into the buzzsaw that is the Bulldogs. And if Pickens is back and the team’s clicking, the Bulldogs could get rid of the 41-year curse.

PREDICTION: Going out on a limb here. Georgia ends it. Georgia finishes 13-0.