Georgia football schedule: Bulldogs’ three toughest games in 2020

A look at the 2020 Georgia football schedule and a dive into the Bulldogs’ toughest games.

Whether or not there will even be a 2020 season is uncertain right now. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit actually said that he would be “shocked” if we had an NFL or college season at the rate things are going in regards to the coronavirus pandemic.

Right now, I think it’s way too early to throw such an idea out there. We still have 5+ months until college football is set to resume.

So, until there’s official word that college football will be played in the fall of 2020, we will all keep our fingers crossed, pray and hope for the best.

I mean, Georgia plays Alabama in week-three. Please do not take that away from not only Bulldog and Tide fans, but football fans across America.

Taking a look at Georgia’s 2020 schedule, there’s no doubt that that September 19th meeting between UGA and Bama in Tuscaloosa is the toughest game on Georgia’s schedule.

When the two powerhouses meet, it will likely be a top-five battle that will have huge implications on both the SEC and the NCAA.

We take a look at Georgia’s three toughest games on its 2020 schedule, with Alabama checking at No. 1.

1. Georgia at Alabama – September 19th

This will be the biggest regular season game of Kirby Smart’s career in Athens. Kirby will be back in Tuscaloosa playing in Nick Saban’s house, where Kirby’s coaching career really took off.

After spending nine years at Alabama, Kirby is yet to defeat the Tide as head coach of the Bulldogs. In two tries, he is 0-2, with both losses coming by a combined 10 points.

Both Alabama and Georgia will go into the 2020 season ranked in the top-five, and by the time they play each other, it’s expected that both will be undefeated.

Georgia’s first three games of 2020:

Virginia

East Tennessee State

Alabama

Alabama’s first three games of 2020:

Southern Cal

Georgia State

Georgia

Alabama will be tested opening week in Arlington, when it meets the Trojans. USC could very well open the season in the top-25, but I don’t think there’s anyone out there who believes the Trojans are going to take down the Tide.

Georgia and Alabama have not met since the 2018 SEC Championship Game, where UGA lost 35-28.

A lot has changed since then. Both teams have new quarterbacks, with Jake Fromm and Tua Tagovailoa leaving their schools for the NFL. There’s new coaching staffs, recruits, transfers, etc.

Players and coaches come and go, but the style remains the same. This will be a physical, defensive battle that will be won in the trenches.

If Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman can adjust to the atmosphere in Bryant-Denny Stadium, I like Georgia’s chances.

But honestly, it’s just way too early to make a prediction on this game, with both teams being so close in terms of talent level.

If there’s one thing I know for certain, though, it’s that Saban will want nothing more than to beat Kirby and the Bulldogs. This offseason, Kirby stole Saban’s longtime strength coach Scott Cochran by offering him the position of special teams coordinator in Athens.

This will be a thrilling fight between two of college football’s biggest names.

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College Football News projects Georgia’s win total for 2020 season

College Football News made win total projections for all CFB teams, including Georgia football and the SEC. With a tough 2020 schedule….

Pete Fiutak at College Football News recently released his projected win totals for all 130 FBS programs.

For Georgia, fans are looking at this season, just like every year, as national title or bust.

But recently the pressure’s been on more than usual, with the Dawgs coming so close to making a return visit to the College Football Playoff in each of the last two seasons.

This season should be no different. The schedule is tough, but Kirby Smart has recruited well enough to position the Bulldogs for another SEC Championship and Playoff run.

In his win total projections, Fiutak has Georgia projected to win 10 games, meaning the Bulldogs would finish the regular season at 10-2.

Read full story on CFN: College Football Future Win Total Projections For All 130 Teams: Spring Version

If Georgia does go 10-2 in the regular season, that would be its worst record since Smart’s first year in Athens when he went 7-5.

Fiutak highlights Florida, Auburn and Alabama as Georgia’s key games in 2020. That’s a tough slate, and it looks like he projects Georgia to come out of that 1-2.

If Georgia finishes with 10 wins, but beats Florida, it’ll likely make the SEC Championship — which would then become a must-win game for UGA if it wants to make the Playoff.

Last preseason, Fiutak projected Georgia’s win total at 10.5, and the Bulldogs proceeded to win 11 games.

As for Florida, Fiutak also predicts the Gators to win 10 games. That would make that Halloween Cocktail Party a massive meeting between the two rivals.

Notable SEC projections from Fiutak:

Alabama’s win total projection is at 11, LSU 10 and Auburn 8.

Outside of the SEC, he has Clemson and Ohio State at 11, Oklahoma 10.5 and Oregon at 10.

2020 Georgia football schedule: Game-by-game predictions

A look at the 2020 Georgia football schedule with predictions for each game.

Coming off a 2019 that saw Georgia come so close to reaching the College Football Playoff, the Bulldogs open up the 2020 season with a Monday night game vs Virginia in Atlanta.

If Georgia – which should be favored in every game minus an October visit to Alabama – takes care of business, then UGA should close out the season in the same stadium it started in.

The Dawgs return a lot of talent in 2020, mostly on a defense that ranked No. 1 in America last season.

To read up more on Georgia’s returning production next season compared to the rest of the country, you can take a deeper dive at this link.

To take a look at Georgia’s projected offensive depth chart for next season, click here.

On offense, Georgia lost a ton of production, including its starting quarterback, its top two running backs, 4 starting offensive linemen and a star wide receiver.

By looking at who Georgia lost from last season’s offense it’s hard to picture the Dawgs making another big run, but it’s important to remember that Kirby Smart has secured three consecutive top ranked recruiting classes. In addition to the loads of talent waiting on the depth chart, Georgia was also able to land Heisman hopeful quarterback Jamie Newman from Wake Forest.

If Georgia is going to have another memorable season, it will need these new offensive faces to be capable of moving the ball more than James Coley’s offense was able to in 2019.

The addition of Todd Monken, who I’d say is Georgia’s biggest get this offseason, should make that possible.

With a ferocious defense and revamped offense, here’s how I see this season playing out for Georgia.

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