Let's face it, Georgia's game against Marshall will likely be a sleeper. However, there is excitement to be had across the college football landscape Labor Day weekend as week one is filled with intriguing matchups all over the place.
Looking ahead at this weekend's slate, here are three key games Georgia fans should pay attention to that will impact the outlook of UGA's season.
Texas vs Ohio State
The biggest game on Saturday without question takes place in Columbus, Ohio. A rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinals is just what fans have been waiting for.
Texas is slated to play Georgia week 12 in Athens. Though that is several weeks away, this game will be crucial for Texas in their playoff hopes as every game is important in the fight to make the CFP. However, if Texas lets this game slip versus Ohio State, their mentality for the rest of the season completely changes. Each game from that point on will feel like a crucial game to Longhorn fans.
With this game also breaking in Arch Manning in a hostile environment, Georgia fans can see just how this young star can react to the intense pressure of playing on the road which is something he will have to do in Athens later this season.
Alabama vs Florida State
Alabama took some hard hits to the portal ever since the retirement of Nick Saban. Now that Kalen DeBoer has a full season of coaching for the Crimson Tide under his belt, this team is looking to go back to their old ways and get back to the playoffs.
However, the Tide have had a quarterback competition that has spanned several weeks and just recently Ty Simpson was named the starter. This game against Florida State will prove to be a test on just how comfortable Simpson is with this offense. Though the Seminoles have fallen on hard times, Doak Campbell will always be a hostile environment to play in.
Since the Crimson Tide are slated to play in a night game in Athens week five, this will give both Alabama and Georgia fans a good idea of what is to come in a few short weeks.
Tennessee vs Syracuse
Georgia's first true test of the season will come against Tennessee in Knoxville week three. This neutral site game for Tennessee in Atlanta week one will say a lot about the Volunteers this season.
Notably, the team lost their starting quarterback and now have transfer Joey Aguilar leading the helm. With so much turnover to the Volunteers' roster over the offseason, it is hard to predict how good this team will be. Though Syracuse is not a blue blood football team, they will prove a worthy opponent to the Vols. In a neutral site game, this could tell Georgia everything they need to know about this new look team.
And don't forget that Syracuse head coach Fran Brown is a former Bulldog assistnat as well, so seeing him beat Tennessee would be pretty awesome to see.