Georgia football: Five bold predictions for the 2017 season

MEMPHIS, TN - DECEMBER 30: Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - DECEMBER 30: Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 02: Todd Gurley #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs past Cody Riggs #31 of the Florida Gators during the game at EverBank Field on November 2, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 02: Todd Gurley #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs past Cody Riggs #31 of the Florida Gators during the game at EverBank Field on November 2, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

5. Georgia will sweep the SEC East

This one’s bold mainly because Georgia has not swept the East since the conference broke into divisions in 1992. Even in years Georgia won the East, the Bulldogs still lost to a SEC East opponent.

Florida in 2002, 2003 and 2005, South Carolina in 2011 and 2012. A team from the East has stood in Georgia’s way of a clean sweep. But not this year. The East is a bit better, but still not great.

Florida has too many question marks. How will their quarterback play be? Can Antonio Callaway stay out of trouble? Can Florida maintain their great defense? All of those questions will decide their fate this year.

South Carolina is better but still rebuilding and they’re coming to Athens. As are Kentucky and Missouri who are also in the process of building their programs into contenders.

Georgia has Tennessee and Vanderbilt on the road and will be looking for revenge in both trips. Tennessee is expected to take a few steps back in 2017 while Vanderbilt is replacing their best player on defense, but they still have Ralph Webb at running back.

All six SEC East games will be challenges, but their isn’t a game that you can point at and say that Georgia will lose. Everything is either a toss-up, or a game Georgia will be favored in by at least two scores. So if Georgia loses a conference game, it won’t come against a team from the East.