John Kaltefleiter of the Athens Banner-Herald takes a look at the upcoming season for Georgia and gives some reasons for why the Dawgs may win or lose each of the games (except for the Troy and Western Carolina gimmes).
Assuming he’s got his facts straight – contrary to what he says, Georgia won the last time it played in Tuscaloosa – he cites some interesting trends in some of the games:
- Georgia is 13-7 all time against teams currently in the Big 12. The Bulldogs’ average margin of victory is 11.2 points. What’s more, the Bulldogs haven’t lost a home opener since 1996, and they are 16-4 in home openers the last 20 years.
- Since Spurrier took over in Columbia, the Gamecocks have averaged just 39 yards rushing and 7.5 points against Georgia.
- Since winning the SEC title in 1999, Alabama is 14-13 in SEC games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and has beaten one of the consistent SEC powers (Auburn, Georgia, Florida, LSU and Tennessee) just twice there. Those two wins came in 2005.
- Since 1967, Georgia has beaten Auburn in consecutive years just five times. It’s only happened twice in the last 20 years.
- And, of course, the 800 pound gorilla, er, Gator: The Bulldogs are 2-15 since 1989.
It’s still too early to predict how this season will go, but if you put a gun to my head right now, I’d chalk Florida and Auburn up as losses because of the history.
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