Georgia Bulldogs 2023 College Football Preview
August 4, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 15-0
ATS – 8-7
Yes, guy.
The Bulldogs hit BACK-to-BACK JACKS and took home another National Championship. They rolled thru the regular season without much trouble, although the scrappy Missouri Tigers gave them a legitimate scare in week five as 29-point underdogs (W 26-22). They strolled past LSU in the SEC Championship Game but were LIFE AND DEATH to slither past Ohio St in an epic playoff semi-final match (W 42-41). The Dawgs obliterated TCU in the title game (65-7) and walked off into the sunset at 15-0. Well done, men!
Georgia Bulldogs 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
QB Stetson Bennett proved the critics wrong again LY as he put up excellent numbers (4,127, 27-7 TD to INT) en route to another championship. Georgia will be going with a youngster at QB this season which is always a bit unpredictable but Carson Beck looked decent in limited action last season (74%, 4-0 TD to INT). There are a pair of other talented specimens who could make a run for the starting gig and we’ll monitor the situation over the rest of the summer. The RB unit is loaded (total shocker) as they retain three of their top-four including Kendall Milton who averaged an impossible 7.5 YPC (!) in 2022. The THROW GAME targets are an impressive stash as well given the return of All-Universe TE Brock Bowers (942, 15.0, 7 TD) and #1 WR Ladd McConkey (762, 13.1, 7 TD). Georgia also added a pair of proven producers at WR via the transfer portal in Rara Thomas (Miss St) and Dominic Lovett. There’s no reason to expect anything other than EXCELLENCE for the offense line as they’re led by an AA center in Sedrick Van Pran and note that the intrepid PHIL STEELE believes that Georgia has the most talented OL in the nation.
DEFENSE
The Bulldogs were iron tough once again LY (14 PPG, #5 FBS) and allowed fewer than 80 YPG (!) on the ground for the 4th straight season (77 YPG, #1). Things look great heading into 2023 as they return seven starters including their top-three tacklers. They’re always loaded up front and still have a plethora of talented bodies on the DL but note that they’ll be without #1 NFL DC Jalen Carter. The LB room is one of the best in the country and recall that Smael Mondon and Jamon Dumas-Johnson were 1-2 in tackles LY and they combined for a mind-blowing 49 (!) QBH. The secondary is the relatively weakest area of the stop unit and they’ll need to replace a pair of NFL DCs. Ohio St and LSU proved that you can do damage thru the air so it’ll be interesting to see how the Bulldogs fare against the better passing teams on the schedule.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It’s good to retain reliable punter Brett Thorson (45.0, 41.4) and PR Ladd McConkey (12.3) but it definitely hurts to lose a true weapon in former PK Jack Podlesny.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The non-conference schedule is a piece of cake and they only have a pair of tough true road games (Auburn, Tennessee).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Ball St (Sept 9)
They’ll be laying a boatload of points (38 or so?) and there’s a yuuuge game with South Carolina on deck. Also be advised that HC Kirby Smart is just 16-23 ATS in the role of home favorite (41%). Not saying, just saying.
Season Win Total
Market consensus August 4
Over 11.5 +110
Under 11.5 -130
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
As the legendary DOS EQUIS guy once said, “We don’t always play season win totals listed at 11.5, but when we do, we prefer to take the ‘under’.”
MEGAmazing Tidbit
Georgia has lost just one game over the last two seasons. That defeat came at the hands of ROLL TIDE in the 2021 National Championship Game (L 41-24). With a record of 29-1 over that time horizon it’s amazing to think that only THREE of those victories were by single digits (Clemson, Missouri, Ohio St). Domination, yo.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
WOW. This looks like yet another loaded edition of Georgia football. The only major question is BIGGIE SIZE as they’ll be playing with inexperienced QBs this year but you have to believe that Kirby Smart and friends will figure it out. They’re our obvious PICK to CLICK in the SEC East and they have a legit shot at a THREE-PEAT but we won’t be taking a short price in the futures market. Best of luck, Bulldogs!