Georgia football vs. Mississippi State: A Must-Win Game for Georgia?
Georgia takes on Mississippi State this Saturday in Athens at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN. In a game between two ranked opponents, here are 3 reasons why the game could be a must-win contest for the Dawgs:
1. Starting Off SEC Play Strong
This game on Saturday is Georgia’s first SEC game of the 2017 season. With a December trip to Atlanta on the Dawgs’ mind this season, it is imperative that Georgia starts off the SEC campaign with a win.
If the Dawgs can’t find a way to win, their goal of winning the SEC East will become more difficult to achieve. Having a blemish on the record so early in the year before even taking on an SEC East opponent would force the Dawgs to play almost perfect football for the remaining 8 games on the schedule.
If Georgia wants to solidify its place as the best team in the SEC besides Alabama, then a win on Saturday against Mississippi State is critical to make that happen. Luckily, Georgia has one of the nation’s best defenses and has this game at home, 2 factors that give the Dawgs a clear advantage (at least on paper) in this game.
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2. Recruiting
As the 2017 college football season rolls along, so does the 2017 high school football season across the country. Many high rated recruits in this year’s recruiting cycle remain uncommitted and several of those have a high interest in the Georgia Bulldogs.
Several recruits have been on record saying they need to see how Georgia performs in 2017 before giving the Dawgs their recruiting commitments. Recruits want to see the Georgia program take the next step under Kirby Smart’s leadership.
If Georgia wants to impress potential recruits, then a win over a ranked SEC opponent at home on Saturday would be a great start. Georgia already achieved a signature win in prime time against Notre Dame two weeks ago. The Dawgs need more wins like that over SEC opponents if Kirby Smart’s staff wants to keep bringing highly rated recruiting classes in the years to come.
3. Another Big Win for Kirby Smart
As Kirby Smart builds the Georgia football program back to prominence, it is imperative that the Dawgs begin to rack up signature wins over highly ranked and highly talented opponents. The game on Saturday against Mississippi State gives Kirby Smart a chance to accomplish just that.
Mississippi State is ranked 17th in the latest AP poll after embarrassing LSU last weekend. Georgia sits at no. 11 in the same poll after starting off the year 3-0. A win on Saturday will almost certainly push the Dawgs into the top 10 and will show the college football world that Kirby Smart can win games on the biggest stages.
Next: Georgia vs. Mississippi State score prediction
As it stands right now, Mississippi State could end up being the best team Georgia faces all year. When the season ends, how the Dawgs did against the best opponents on the schedule will provide a clear picture about how the program is progressing.