College Football: Five best dark horse picks to win National Championship in 2017

4. Georgia Bulldogs

2016 Record: 8-5 (4-4 SEC)

National Championship Odds: +5,000

The Georgia Bulldogs are actually one of the favorites to walk away with the SEC East crown in 2017, along with the Florida Gators. If you had to pick a favorite for the division, most people would likely pick the Gators.

More: SEC Media narrowly picks Georgia over Florida in the SEC East

Georgia lost three games last year that all could have been won with just an extra push. The Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets all defeated the Bulldogs by a combined slim five-point margin. Another year of experience for sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason to mature could be exactly what the Dawgs need to get over the hump in 2017.

The offense is absolutely loaded with talent between Eason and the backfield. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel form one of the best and deepest backfields in the nation. Junior receiver Terry Godwin and sophomore receiver Riley Ridley are solid weapons for Eason to work with as well.

Early out of conference battles with the Appalachian State Mountaineers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will give insight to how Georgia will actually fair during the SEC slate. The cross conference schedule is also rather friendly for the Dawgs as well. The only big SEC West test they face is on the road against the Auburn Tigers.