Dawn of the Dawg
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2016 Georgia Football game-by-game previews and predictions

By Jay Hawkins

Jan 2, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Georgia Bulldogs come out of the tunnel prior to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Georgia Bulldogs come out of the tunnel prior to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams (12, center) celebrates with running back Elijah Hood (34) and offensive tackle John Ferranto (77) after Williams
Oct 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams (12, center) celebrates with running back Elijah Hood (34) and offensive tackle John Ferranto (77) after Williams /

Sep. 3     vs. North Carolina (Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game)

Players to Watch: RB Elijah Hood, QB Mitch Trubisky, WR Ryan Switzer

Preview: The days of the University of North Carolina just being a basketball school are gone. Head football coach Larry Fedora has done an outstanding job in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Tar Heels are coming off an outstanding 2015 campaign which included going 11-1 in the regular season, appearing in the ACC Championship game and losing by a mere eight points to CFB Playoff runner-up Clemson.

This season, North Carolina loses some talent including 2015’s starting quarterback Marquise Williams, but returns 15 starters. That includes almost all of a potent offense that was one of the ACC’s best last season and the No. 1 scoring offense in the conference as the Heels scored an average of 40.7 points per game.

This year, the Tar Heels expect to not skip a beat on offense as they return one of the best running backs in the country in Elijah Hood (1,463 yards rushing and 17 TDs in 2015), two dynamic wide receivers in Bug Howard and Ryan Switzer (who is also a special teams star and combined with Howard to have over 1,000 yards receiving), return all but one starter on the offensive line and have a guy in Mitch Trubisky at quarterback who might be better than Williams. He certainly has a better arm.

On the other side of the ball, North Carolina’s defense improved under first-year defensive coordinator Gene Chizik in 2015 and are looking for more in 2016. Their secondary is one of the ACC’s best.

Bottom Line: This will be a huge test for Kirby Smart in his first game at the Georgia helm. North Carolina’s offense is explosive, and their defense is improving. It looks like Nick Chubb will be back at running back in this game, which will be a huge boon for the Dawgs. Combine that with talented newcomer Elijah Holyfield, and the Georgia run game should pose a huge problem to a North Carolina defense that had the worst run defense in the ACC last year and gave up 645 yards on the ground in their bowl game against Baylor.

However, North Carolina knows how to score points as well, and look for this game to be an exciting shootout. Ultimately, the Dawgs’ run game will be the difference as Kirby Smart should rely heavily on his backs to take pressure off whoever wins the quarterback battle.

Prediction: Georgia 38-North Carolina 35

Next: Sep. 10 vs. Nicholls State

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