As the 2024 college football season approaches, the Georgia Bulldogs are widely anticipated to be the top seed in the College Football Playoff, according to a prominent ESPN analyst. The new season is set to begin in just over two weeks, with Georgia gearing up for their season opener against the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 2017, Georgia has only missed the SEC Championship game once, in 2020, and this season, experts predict that streak will continue.
Rece Davis of College Gameday has expressed a strong belief that the Bulldogs will not only claim the SEC title but will also secure the number one seed in the inaugural 12-team playoff format this year. On the College Gameday Podcast, Davis stated, “My number one seed? SEC Champion – University of Georgia.”
To achieve this, Georgia must navigate a challenging schedule. However, Davis argues that the Bulldogs’ skill level outweighs the difficulty of their schedule. “Georgia is the anti-schedule pick,” Davis remarked. “This is the belief that, if you are good enough, you’ll win the games anyway. If you are powerful enough, you’ll win the games anyway.” Despite facing tough opponents such as Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss, and hosting Tennessee, Davis remains confident in Georgia’s superiority.
With the expansion of the playoff system this year, teams no longer need a perfect record to secure a playoff spot. Last season, Georgia went undefeated in the regular season for the third consecutive year but was knocked out of the playoffs after a loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. This year, even if Georgia suffers a regular-season loss, winning the conference championship would guarantee them a top-four seed and a first-round bye due to the automatic bids awarded to conference champions.
Georgia’s season begins with a high-stakes game against Clemson, followed by a challenging match-up at Alabama three weeks later. This demanding schedule will quickly reveal how strong the Bulldogs are. If Georgia manages to complete a fourth consecutive undefeated regular season, it could be recognized as one of the most impressive 12-game stretches in college football history, given the tough competition they will face.
