Is Georgia football overrated? Chip Patterson, of CBS, seems to think so.
CBS put out their SEC predictions August 21st. Seven of their writers gave their most overrated team, their most underrated team, their bold prediction for the season, and where the teams would finish in their division.
Georgia football came out the unanimous SEC East winner, but some of the things that Chip Patterson had to say really caught my eye.
Most overrated team
"Georgia: The Bulldogs are my pick to win the SEC East, but unlike others that have Jake Fromm and Co. playoff bound, I think this group — after changes at both offensive and defensive coordinator — could take a slight step back and drop a couple games in the regular season. — Chip Patterson"
Most underrated team
"Auburn: Gus Malzahn’s team will win 10 games in 2019, and that includes beating Georgia or Alabama in Jordan-Hare Stadium in November. It’s probably not going to be both, but I think they can get one of the two playoff contenders there in the home stretch of the season. — Chip Patterson"
Patterson has Georgia losing a couple of games in the regular season, including possibly losing to Auburn. Georgia is 4-1 against Auburn since Kirby Smart has taken over as head coach, including a win over the Tigers in the SEC Championship. However, Smart and the Dawgs are 0-1 at Jordan-Hare.
Auburn does have one of the best defensive lines in the country, but Auburn is also starting a true freshman at quarterback. Georgia boasts one of the best offensive lines in the nation and has an upperclassman quarterback with the best running back in the country. This matchup is clearly in Georgia’s favor.
Also, if Georgia is going to lose a couple of games and Auburn is one, who is the other? Notre Dame? South Carolina? Florida? Missouri? Texas A&M? Georgia Tech? All are highly unlikely.
However, Mr. Patterson does go on to make this bold prediction about Missouri:
"Chip Patterson: Kelly Bryant thrives at Missouri. Who needs rings … or a bowl game? Even with sanctions in place, I think Bryant and the Tigers are going to play a huge role as spoiler in the SEC East race."
Even with a quarterback that started for Clemson in the past, I do not see Missouri as a threat to Georgia. Drew Lock was a much better quarterback than Kelly Bryant is and Georgia’s record vs Missouri since Kirby Smart got there is 3-0 with an average score of 41-28.
Georgia may lose a couple of games this year, but not in the regular season. At most Georgia will go into December with one loss on its record. I can see it being Auburn, as that defensive line will be the toughest test for Georgia’s offensive line. It is also at Jordan-Hare, where Smart is 0-1. He also owns a 0-3 record on the road vs the SEC West.
So, I can see some of what Patterson is saying, but overall, I disagree.
Georgia is not losing more than one game in the regular season and they most certainly are not going to allow Missouri to become a factor in the SEC East race.
The Dawgs are playoff bound this year, book it.