Georgia Bulldogs Odds - Too many big losses for Bulldogs to compete
This year’s Georgia Bulldogs odds have dropped the SEC’s best team over the last 10 years back in the pack, due to key losses on offense. The onus will be on the defense to keep the Bulldogs from falling too far behind rival Florida and the rest of the SEC in your sportsbook.
Georgia Bulldogs Odds: No Stafford + no Moreno = no hope in the SEC
- Big backfield shoes to fill for Cox, King
- Secondary returns one starter, also a lack of a pass rush
- Annual Florida game on Halloween could be nightmare for Bulldogs
Senior pivot Joe Cox finally gets his turn to shine after Matt Stafford bolted to become the No.1 pick in the NFL draft, and he’ll be protected by an offensive line that returns all five starters from 2008, which is good news. AJ Green steps into the No.1 receiver slot smoothly, which gives Cox a dependable target, but the biggest question mark will be at running back, where Caleb King takes over for the departed Knowshon Moreno, who also was a first-round pick in the NFL draft. On days that Stafford was struggling, the Bulldogs could just hand it off to Moreno. King will have to prove early that he is capable of doing the same, and he’ll be a major factor to Georgia’s sports betting lines.
The Georgia defense was 22nd in the country in 2008 (ironically, they were also 22nd in offense), and they’ll return six starters from that unit. Linebacker Rennie Curran and safety Reshad Jones, the Bulldogs’ top two tacklers, are back to lead the way, but Georgia needs to get more of a pass rush out of their front four as they managed only 23 sacks. This would help out their secondary, which only has Jones as a returning starter from 2008.
The Bulldogs went into 2008 as the No.1 team, but fell victim to the fourth-toughest schedule in the country. This year’s isn’t any easier as there are eight 2008 bowl teams for them to go up against, beginning with a monster of a game at Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs head to Tennessee on October 3rd, but all eyes will be on Jacksonville on Halloween, when the Bulldogs meet Florida in the annual “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”. The Gators humiliated Georgia by 39 last year and threw in some late timeouts for added measure, so this should be a donnybrook. The season could come down to their trip to Georgia Tech in a rivalry billed “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate”.
College football betting odds have the Bulldogs at +650 to win the competitive SEC, and a +5000 longshot to win their first national championship since 1980. Their lack of experience at quarterback and running back should hurt them early in the season, and as tough as the SEC is, they could be out of it by November. Therefore, the defense will have to be even better than last year, but the secondary could face some trials. With all of their skill-player losses on offense, I’d avoid making the Bulldogs one of your betting picks for the BCS this year.
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Blake walked onto his college football team and had a brief stint as an assistant coach after he graduated. He brings a sharp mind to the world of sports handicapping. Blake understands the nuances of the game that only someone who has played would understand. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
