Georgia Football: Dawgs set to make another championship run

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: D'Andre Walker
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: D'Andre Walker /
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In my opinion, it’s never too early to start talking about fall football. So let’s have some fun and make some way-too-early predictions for the 2018 season.

For those of you that missed the College Football Playoff national title game last year, I have three things to say: first, shame on you — that’s downright un-American. Second, wow, that was a heck of a game. Georgia lost to Alabama in a barn-burner, 26-23, game that ended with Alabama winning the title. Third, Georgia is going to be great again in 2018, maybe even second-national-title game great.

Despite the fact that Georgia lost several key playmakers to this year’s NFL draft, namely Roquan Smith, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, it also has a wealth of talent waiting in the wings. Besides the fact that the Bulldogs might want revenge on Bama for putting a damper on an otherwise amazing season, their schedule in 2018 seems to point to an undefeated run at the SEC East.

The SEC East is weak again this year, with the Gators and Tennessee busy rebuilding. South Carolina may be their only real challenger for the SEC East crown, but that is a pretty big maybe.

Gamecocks’ signal-caller Jake Bentley returns for his senior season, and the team has been getting better every season under Will Muschamp. I’m still not sure that Carolina can really challenge the Dawgs. Florida is an unknown entity, but Mullen is a great coach, so they might give Georgia a bit of a scare — might.

Next: UGA star Nick Chubb flying under the NFL radar

The only non-conference team that should give the Dawgs any kind of game next year are in-state rivals Georgia Tech. Otherwise, their non-conference games should be like a scrimmage for the Bulldogs — the Dawgs play Austin Peay, Massachusetts and Middle Tennessee.

Yes, the Bulldogs still have to play a beefy Auburn team in SEC West, but after last year, you can bet that Georgia will come into that game loaded for bear.

I understand that college football is bizarro world. Injuries happen, great teams lose all the time to unranked opponents and teeny rabbits run on the field and get touchdowns.

If you haven’t seen that video, it is a great bit of college football hilarity — I’ve included it for your amusement below.

Next: NFL Draft 2019: Way-too-early top 5 prospects

The thing is, everything is in Georgia’s favor to make another championship run. So Georgia fans can rest easy that last year’s performance was the start of something awesome, not just a lucky anomaly. We’ll see if I’m right in 116 days.