The Georgia Bulldogs have finally returned for the 2022 season. For the second straight year, the Dawgs will take on their Week 1 opponent at a neutral site. This year No. 3 Georgia will play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against the No.11 ranked Oregon Ducks.
This Top-15 matchup features two talented rosters of players that are hungry to get that first victory of the season.
It’ll also be the first time that Oregon head coach Dan Lanning faces off with his former boss Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. Even though it’s only been a few months since Lanning was in Athens, what a first game to have as a first-time head coach.
The Dawgs lost a lot of players on defense and a few offensive playmakers but still return 10 starters in 2022. As for the Ducks, they return around seven. Granted of those seven and 10 starters, both teams have big-name returners ready to cause problems this upcoming season.
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Oregon Ducks odds for Week 1:
Saturday afternoon could potentially be a kickstart or slap in the face for Georgia depending on the outcome. According to the odds, the Dawgs enter this matchup against Oregon as 17.5 favorites.
If your preference is picking the game straight-up and betting the money line, it currently lists Clemson at +625, while Georgia currently sits at -950. So if you were to throw down $100 on Oregon, you would win $625. If you did the same for Georgia, someone would only win $10.52.
The over/under for this SEC/Pac-12 matchup is 53.5 points. There are currently even odds on the total, with both the over and the under sitting at -110, so you would bet $110 to make $100.
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Oregon Ducks prediction for Week 1:
Week 1 has to be one of the hardest games to pick especially when it’s between two teams like Georgia football and the Oregon Ducks. Both teams have talent, but it’s still very early in the season, and both squads are coming together.
Now the 17.5-point spread is a bit steep for me, but the Dawgs could cover if this offense explodes like Georgia expects it to do.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has his best group yet, and with a quarterback he can trust, the sky is truly the limit for this group. Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett will be a significant factor in this game against the Ducks as he will open the season with a chip on his shoulder.
Co-defensive coordinators Glenn Schumann and Will Muschamp will have a scrappy defense that is inexperienced in some areas but oozes talent. Oregon also has two of the best defenders in Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, so this game should be a fun one for at least three quarters.
However, the Dawgs are far too deep for the Ducks to handle all four quarters and Georgia will pull away to cover the spread and win easily. While it’s never easy to put money down and say a team will cover a 17.5-point spread, this week it should be. Georgia wins 45-14 and gives Smart his seventh straight opening week victory.
If the Georgia Bulldogs win this game, it could have a lot of implications like last year’s win over Clemson did. By winning, the Dawgs are in the driver’s seat, but if they lose, it’ll be a battle to prove themselves worthy of a spot in the playoffs. Regardless it’ll be a great ball game that no one should miss.