Georgia Bulldogs Football Team Preview 2019 - Odds and Predictions

After taking Alabama to overtime in the National Championship game in 2017, the Georgia Bulldogs took a small step back, going 11-1 in the regular season before losing to Alabama in the SEC title game and Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

The Bulldogs rolled through their regular season schedule, picking up wins against ranked opponents Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina; the lone slip up coming in a tough road game against then-13th ranked LSU.

UGA was powered by a two-headed rushing attack featuring 1,000-yard backs D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield. The Bulldogs were unstoppable on the ground, averaging 238.8 yards per game which topped the SEC. Georgia managed to win 11 games despite fielding a mediocre defense that tallied just 24 sacks and eight interceptions.

Key Returning Players (2018 Stats)

Ima double back on a ????? if I miss em pic.twitter.com/XI97uFHpod

— ?Monty Rice (@RiceMonty) May 8, 2019

• QB Jake Fromm (Junior) – 2,761 Pass Yards | 30 Pass TD | 6 INT
• RB D’Andre Swift (Junior) – 1,049 Rush Yards | 13 Total TD | 6.4 Yards per Carry
• DB Richard LeCounte (Junior) – 74 Total Tackles | 3 Pass Def | 2 Forced Fumbles
• MLB Tae Crowder (Senior) – 53 Total Tackles | 6.0 Tackles For Loss | 2 INT

Coach Kirby Smart will welcome back starting quarterback Jake Fromm, who will still have Swift to lean on. Although Holyfield is gone, someone like James Cook (brother of Vikings running back Dalvin Cook) could fill those shoes. Fromm’s blind side will once again be protected by left tackle Andrew Thomas while the other tackle spot is likely to be manned by Isaiah Wilson.

Leading tackler Richard LeCounte will be back to roam the defensive backfield, while Tae Crowder and Monty Rice should see lots of time at the middle linebacker spots in Smart’s 3-4 scheme. The pass rush should be better in 2019, with a rotation that includes David Marshall, Malik Herring, and Tyler Clark, which should keep everyone fresh.

Key Departures

• QB Justin Fields (Transferred to Ohio State)
• CB DeAndre Baker (NFL Draft)
• WR Riley Ridley (NFL Draft)
• DE D’Andre Walker (NFL Draft)

The biggest losses come on offense, as Fromm will be without his top two receiving targets in Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman who left school early for the draft. Tight end Isaac Nauta will also be missed as Fromm’s safety valve. The Bulldogs also lost some key leadership on the offensive line in center Lamont Gaillard as well as top pass rusher D’Andre Walker who led the team with 7.5 sacks.

Notable Recruits (Star Ratings and Rankings According to Rivals.com)

After my 4 set I decided to #domore and went to 630 @coach_sinclair pic.twitter.com/IxOyAltzk3

— Nolan Smith II (@SmithNoland2) March 13, 2019

• WR George Pickens – 5 Star | 6-4, 190lb | Hoover HS | Hoover, AL
• OL Clay Webb – 5 Star | 6-3, 290lb | Oxford HS | Oxford, AL
• OLB Nolan Smith – 5 Star | 6-3, 228lb | IMG Academy | Bradenton, FL
• CB Tyrique Stevenson – 4 Star | 6-1, 180lb | Southridge HS | Miami, FL

The Bulldogs cast a wide net on the recruiting trail, ending up with the top freshman class in the nation. Of their top ten rated recruits, only two are from the state of Georgia. The biggest get for the Bulldogs was arguably wide receiver George Pickens from Alabama, the seventh ranked recruit in the nation and second highest at his position. One recruit who could make an immediate impact is center Clay Webb, the top at his position in the country and a position of dire need for the Bulldogs.

2019 Schedule

Given their schedule, a berth in the College Football Playoff should not be out of the question. Their calendar is balanced with some favorable matchups such as Vanderbilt and Missouri, as well as some tough games against Auburn, Notre Dame, and Florida which could end up being resume builders in the eyes of the Playoff Selection Committee. With four games against SEC opponents at Sanford Stadium, the Bulldogs will need to make every one of those games count to make it to New Orleans.

Where to Bet on Win Totals and Playoff Odds in New Jersey

New Jersey residents can wager on Georgia’s win total on 888Sport, where their over/under is currently at 10.5 wins. Bettors can also wager on Georgia’s odds to make the College Football Playoff and win the Southeastern Conference. Good luck!

SEC Conference Winner

* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER

Georgia Bulldogs to Make the Playoffs

* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER

Number of Games Won – Excluding Bowl Games & Play Offs

Regular season only. Conference championship games do not count.

* 21+ | NJ only | If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER