Dawn of the Dawg
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 13
Next
Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11), linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and teammates celebrate as they beat the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 45-6. Tennessee Volunteers Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11), linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and teammates celebrate as they beat the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 45-6. Tennessee Volunteers Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Oct. 1     vs. Tennessee

Players to Watch: QB Josh Dobbs, RB Jalen Hurd, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin

Preview: Tennessee was the best team in the SEC East last year, but they found a way to choke in multiple games, and Florida ended up winning the division. The majority of the “experts” are picking Tennessee to finish the job and win the East this year, and I, for one, agree with their sentiment.

And they definitely should win the division. UT head coach Butch Jones has undoubtably the most talented team in the East in Knoxville, Tenn., and he needs to produce. Many believe he will.

The unquestioned leader of this team is senior quarterback Josh Dobbs, who is one of the best pure athletes in the conference and a playmaker. He needs to improve as a threat in the downfield passing game and add this to his repertoire. Either way, he is still one of the best signal-callers in the conference. After all, Dobbs did pass for 2,291 yards and rushed for 671 more last season.

Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) celebrates with fans after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) celebrates with fans after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Dobbs also has a lot of talent around him in the form of the dangerous running back duo of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara and a top receiving corps led by Josh Smith and Josh Malone. Let’s just say, the Vols should have one of the best offenses in the SEC and probably the country next year.

The defense has a lot of potential and playmakers, but Bob Shoop was brought in from Penn State in the offseason to improve this unit. He certainly has a lot of talent at his disposal. The defense is solid and led by a strong defensive line, pass-rushing freak Derek Barnett who had ten sacks last season, leading tackler linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (105 last year) and a potent secondary led by corner Cameron Sutton and safety Evan Berry, who are also nightmares to cover in the return game. Berry almost broke the NCAA all-time single-season record for return average.

Bottom Line: Despite all of this, Georgia will pull the upset and give Tennessee one of their few if not their only loss of the regular season. We all know the Bulldogs are known for their resiliency, and they will bounce back nicely from the Ole Miss loss to defeat the Vols in Sanford Stadium. I guarantee the Classic City a.k.a. Athens, Ga., will be rocking that night if the Dawgs do indeed get the “W.”

Prediction: Georgia 35-Tennessee 31

Next: Oct. 8 @South Carolina

Home/Georgia Football