Comparing the 2017 Georgia football team to the 2002 Bulldogs after six games

Georgia football is 6-0 midway through the 2017 season. It’s the best start since 2005, but this team has more in common with the 2002 Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are back on top. While Georgia football isn’t surprising anyone by beginning the 2017 season 6-0, no one expected then to look this good. The defense is of the most intense and ferocious units to come out of Athens in many years. The offense is efficient, which with their defense, is all they really need.

Just look at recent scores. 31-3 over no. 17 Mississippi State, 41-0 over Tennessee and 45-14 over Vanderbilt. Mississippi State and Tennessee were supposed to play Georgia close. Mississippi State was even favored by some pundits. And yet Georgia squashed both them.

Georgia entered the season as split preseason favorites to win the SEC East. But now, they’re all alone at the top. Part of that is because of Florida’s issues with suspensions and injuries which have diminished their quality of play. But Georgia is also just playing near perfect ball. And when they don’t Kirby Smart lets you hear about it.

At this point, you know a Georgia loss isn’t going to come because the team played down or got over-zealous. For Georgia to lose, their opponent is going to have to play the perfect game.

That’s why Georgia is not only 6-0 for the first time since 2005, but are also legit contenders for the national Championship after half a season. However, the best team to compare the current Bulldogs to isn’t the 2005 team. It’s actually the 2002 Georgia football.

How good is this squad compared to 2002’s? Can they run the table where the 2002 team couldn’t? What about the offensive and defensive differences? Here are a few comparisons between these two great Georgia football teams separated by 15 years.