No. 9 Florida State | No. 11 UCLA | Top 25
No. 10: Georgia
Last Season: 10-3 (6-2 SEC East)
Off and running in Athens
It's another year in Athens, which means it has been another winter of extreme makeover work by coach Mark Richt, entering his 15th season as top Dawg. In 2014, UGA rebuilt its defensive coaching staff. This year all the biggest changes have come on the offensive side of the ball. New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer (yes, of those Schottenheimers) has moved to town along with a new O-line coach, Rob Sale, and a new running backs coach, Thomas Brown. All three are known for loving pro-style, running-based attacks. So all three must be licking their collective bulldog jowls over the chance to unleash Heisman hopeful Nick Chubb, the latest in a long line of great Georgia running backs. Last season the freshman was pressed into service after injuries to Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall and answered with 1,547 yards. Now the key will be to avoid the same supposed UGA running back curse that sidelined both halves of "Gurshall" last year, not to mention Isaiah Crowell, Washaun Ealey, Caleb King ... you get the picture. (If you don't, see this story from Grantland.) -- Ryan McGee
Coach Mark Richt, despite playing in a bowl in each of his 14 seasons in Athens, is often labeled an underachiever. That notion is hard to dispel considering that the Bulldogs have suffered seven upsets the past two seasons. In '15, UGa draws Alabama (a pick 'em) and Auburn (+3) from the West and faces an improved Tennessee team on the road (pick 'em). Still, even with inexperienced soph Brice Ramsey at QB, Richt has by far the most talent in the East, with my No. 1 RBs, No. 3 O-line and No. 9 LBs in the country. Although the Dawgs will struggle to reach a plus-16 turnover margin again, their yards-per-game differential in SEC play (82.3) suggests they were much better than a three-loss team.
IN IF...
A dynamic QB emerges. Of course, with RB Nick Chubb back after rushing for 1,547 yards as a true frosh, Richt can call conservatively and still win the East -- that just won't cut it against the West's best.
OUT IF...
UGA doesn't beat Bama or Auburn -- or loses a likely rematch against either in Atlanta. With the SEC's fifth-easiest slate, according to FPI, the Dawgs likely won't be forgiven for more than one loss.
Georgia's chances to win each game
09.05 vs. Louisiana-Monroe: 98.6%
09.12 @ Vanderbilt: 82.0%
09.19 vs. South Carolina: 84.9%
09.26 vs. Southern: 99.9%
10.03 vs. Alabama: 53.4%
10.10 @ Tennessee: 49.0%*
10.17 vs Missouri: 79.2%
10.31 Florida (Jacksonville): 71.8%
11.07 vs. Kentucky: 88.4%
11.14 @ Auburn: 53.9%
11.21 vs. Georgia Southern: 92.6%
11.28 @ Georgia Tech: 63.4%
*BROCK HUARD, ESPN analyst: The Dawgs and Vols will limp in coming off Bama and Arkansas, respectively. But Georgia has more NFL-caliber talent (Chubb, LB Leonard Floyd, DE Jordan Jenkins) to outlast a UT team that's a year away.
SHARON KATZ, ESPN Stats & Info: FPI sees that the Vols return an SEC-high 18 starters and have signed back-to-back top-five classes, which will pay dividends.
Even with a quarterback battle that could drag into the season, the Bulldogs own one of the country's most complete teams and will get back to Atlanta, finishing the regular season 10-2. -- Edward Aschoff
Like at Alabama, quarterback and receiver are big questions, but Nick Chubb, a strong offensive line and a defense in its second season under Jeremy Pruitt will help Georgia win the SEC East at 11-1. -- David Ching
With the conference's best pound-for-pound running back (Nick Chubb) and an improving defense, this looks like an 11-1 Atlanta-bound squad. -- Sam Khan Jr.
With Nick Chubb at running back and a quality defense, the QB situation won't matter so much as the Bulldogs should reach the SEC title game relatively unscathed but ultimately miss out on the playoff, finishing 11-1. -- Alex Scarborough
No. 9 Florida State | No. 11 UCLA | Top 25
