2024 Season Preview – Georgia Bulldogs
2023 Record – 13-1; 8-0 SEC
Bowl: VS Florida State in Orange Bowl (W 63-3)
2024 Schedule
- 8/31 – VS Clemson (In Atlanta)
- 9/7 – VS Tennessee Tech
- 9/14 – at Kentucky
- 9/28 – at Alabama
- 10/5 – VS Auburn
- 10/12 – VS Mississippi State
- 10/19 – at Texas
- 11/2– VS Florida (In Jacksonville)
- 11/9 – at Ole Miss
- 11/16 – VS Tennessee
- 11/23 – VS UMass
- 11/29 – VS Georgia Tech
2023 Recap
After winning the National Championship in 2022, Georgia had all the momentum going into the new season. They started off with a couple tune up wins against UT Martin from the FCS and Ball State out of the MAC.
Conference play started with a home game against South Carolina. The Bulldogs struggled and fell behing 14-3 at the half. They bounced back and scored 21 in the second half to win 24-14. This would be a theme throughout the regular season.
Georgia also had to have second half comebacks against Auburn and Missouri. Even with these struggles, the Bulldogs finished the season undefeated and made it to the SEC Championship.
In the SEC Championship against Alabama, the Bulldogs scored first to go up 7-0. Alabama would take over after that taking a 27-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Georgia would score late, but would fall 27-24 for their first loss in two years.
Even with an undefeated regular season the championship game loss was enough to keep the Bulldogs out of the playoffs. They would play Florida State in the Orange Bowl. After Florida State missed out on the playoffs even though they were undefeated, they had no heart to play in the game. The Bulldogs came out and dominated every aspect of the game for a 63-3 blowout win. Georgia finished the season at 13-1, with an 8-0 record in conference play.
2024 Preview
The entire Bulldog team is loaded and it starts with returning quarterback Carson Beck. He threw for just under 4,000 yards in 2023 and Georgia averaged 40.1 points per game, good for fifth in the country.
In front of him, four of the five starting offensive linemen are coming back as well. Jared Wilson will come in as center but should be able to fit in just fine.
If there is one place a hole in the offense could open up it is at running back. The top two backs, Daijon Edwards and Kendall Milton are gone. Trevor Etienne is transferring in from Florida and he will be just as dynamic. In short, Georgia is just reloading.
The defense for Georgia is just as strong and bringing back just as much talent. They allowed 15.6 points per game, also good for fifth in the country. The defensive line is mostly returning intact. If anything, they could find a way to improve after finishing 12th in the SEC in sacks per game.
One possible weak point for the defense will be in the secondary. The Bulldogs will need to replace three of their starters in that area. However, they are bringing in two five-star recruits in this area that should be able to step in. If they can come up to speed, expect more of the same from the Georgia defense.
2024 Projection
Georgia with start off the season playing the Clemson Tigers in Atlanta. With Clemson trailing off last year, the Bulldogs should come out with an easy win. They follow this game up with an easy game against Tennessee Tech out of the FCS.
Conference season starts up with two road games against Kentucky and Alabama. With Nick Saban’s retirement it will be interesting to see how that matchup ends up going. The Bulldogs should be able to come out of Tuscaloosa with the win.
The big game of Georgia’s season, if not all of college football, will be the matchup against Texas in Austin. After finally breaking through in their last season of the Big 12, the Longhorns have a lot of momentum on their side. This is a game where I would pick Georgia if they were playing at home, but since it is in Austin I give Texas the edge.
There will also be a couple other interesting matchups to end conference play at Ole Miss and at home against Tennessee. At the end of the day, Georgia should be able to pull out both of those wins.
With only one loss, the Bulldogs should be able to make it back to the SEC Championship game and into the first year of the expanded college football playoffs. It should be another successful season.
Prediction – 11-1