Georgia Football 2023 Preview: Way-too-early season prediction, key matchups, players to watch, roster, & more
Georgia is one of college football's titans, cementing their blue-blood status by winning the last two national championships. They made more money than any other team revenue-wise, while also spending the most money. Between this and their recent success, the Georgia Bulldogs are the hottest team among the Power 5.
Here's a preview of their 2023 season.
Way-too-early season prediction
After putting together just the third 15-0 season ever and winning back-to-back national championships by way of the largest victory margin in the modern era, it would be ridiculous to suggest that Georgia will fall short of the Southeastern Conference championship game.
The Bulldogs have won the SEC East five of the last six seasons. Appearing in the SEC title game should be the floor of their expectations in 2023.
Key matchups for the 2023 season
For the defending national champ, Georgia has a relatively soft schedule. Its contest in Jacksonville against the Bulldogs' heated rivals, the Florida Gators, almost always decides who wins the SEC East, to reach the SEC championship game in Atlanta, Georgia.
While they only have one difficult road test, at least itβs one of the toughest in college football. On Nov. 18, Georgia has to enter Neyland Stadium to face the Tennessee Volunteers.
If Georgia passes those tests, LSU or Alabama almost certainly awaits them for the SEC title.
Players to watch
May 18 = National ππ«π¨ππ€ Day
@brockbowers17 π€ @BrockVandagriff
#GoDawgs https://t.co/U2pXngoNRW
Brock Bowers may be the No. 1 tight end prospect in history. Bowers, along with multiple front-seven players like Smael Mondon, Mykel Williams and Malaki Starks, return.
However, the biggest storyline is Georgia's successors.
Carson Beck seems to have won the starting quarterback job in spring practice. Along with newly appointed Mike Bobo as play-caller, Beck has Stetson Bennett-sized shoes to fill. He will have a lot of help as Georgia boasts one of the strongest supporting casts in football.
Roster analysis
After another hectic version of the transfer portal in the 2023 offseason, the 'Dawgs are going to need a lot of younger players to step up.
Fifteen players transferred out of Georgia, and many of those were expected to make their first impact in 2023. According to 247 Sports, they rank 57th in the transfer rankings. Many of their regular season opponents, including Ole Miss, Auburn, and potentially LSU, litter the top 10 of the transfer portal rankings.
Georgia will still be stellar up front, returning its three top tacklers. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey returns, with his 12 career touchdowns, but much of the rest of the offense will have to replace its 2022 production. A running back duo of Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards will help provide a healthy dose of the ground game behind Georgia's dominant offensive line and tight ends.
Coaching staff and strategies
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is widely considered one of the top minds in college football. Heβs created a recruiting factory to pair with his excellent coaching staff, led by the nation's highest-paid defensive coordinator, Glenn Schumann.
The biggest turnaround will be replacing Todd Monken with Mike Bobo. Sources believe the offense's identity will not change much, directed by its bevy of tight end talent.
Year in and year out, the Georgia Bulldogs defense is on the cutting edge. An endless list of accomplished former defensive coordinators man the other side of the staff, including Will Muschamp and Kirby Smart.
Expectations and goals
Georgia's 2023 expectations are nothing short of becoming the first team to three-peat since the Minnesota Gophers in the 1930s.
βNo greater pressure than it was last year,β Smart said. βEvery yearβs independent of the previous. You start from scratch, you look at your team. You do the best job you can."
Much of that pressure will be laid down to the hands, or arm, of quarterback Carson Beck, who's next start will be his first in collge football, and his new OC.
While Smart said there would be no pressure added this season, if he wants to supplant his mentor Nick Saban as the best college football coach currently, and maybe ever, a three-peat would go a long way. It is something that even Saban has never accomplished.
Conclusion
Georgia's season simply comes down to whether can the Bulldogs handle the distractions and maintain consistency across an entire schedule with many "trap" games. Then, after that, it may come down to whether they can get past a fully healthy Alabama Crimson Tide. If so, we could be looking at history.