Mansell: Predicting Georgia’s 2023 season
August is here and that means we won’t have a month without College Football until February. We won’t have a month without college or NFL Football until March. That’s a very good thing. Each year I use August 1 as the day to predict how Georgia will fare for the upcoming season. This year is no different and I offer my predictions out for you below
September 2 vs. Tennessee-Martin (6 p.m. on ESPN +)
The much-anticipated first career start for Carson Beck, barring something crazy, will come Between The Hedges. This will also mark the return of Mike Bobo as the offensive coordinator in Athens. Georgia is clearly the better team and I expect this be a nice evening to start the season.
Georgia 45 – UTM 7
September 9 vs. Ball State (12 p.m. on SEC Network)
A noon kick in early September means this could be a hot one. If Georgia had any issues in week one, then this will be the game to get them worked out after seeing itself on film. This should also be a game where UGA can get into the depth chart and likely play a few quarterbacks. How is the running game at this point and who is getting the carries? That’s something I’m already thinking about with this game.
Georgia 41 – Ball State 10
Jeff Blake | USA TODAY Sports
September 16 vs. South Carolina (3:30 p.m. on CBS)
The first SEC game of the year and it will be in the prime slot on CBS. South Carolina will be the first big test for Carson Beck. Spencer Rattler and the Gamecocks finished last season with massive wins over Tennessee and Clemson. They have a big opener vs North Carolina and that will tell you a lot about this roster early on. Georgia blew out the Gamecocks last year by a score of 48-7 and gave Rattler fits with two interceptions and no touchdowns. I think this game will be closer but Georgia is still much deeper than SC, especially on the lines of scrimmage. Barring turnovers or easy scores, Georgia should be in control most of the way.
Georgia 34 – South Carolina 13
September 23 vs. UAB
Trent Dilfer is the first-year head coach for the Blazers. UAB has done well in years past with the portal and should have a really good roster coming into Athens. This is one of those games where you want to start fast and avoid looking ahead to the first road game of the season at Auburn. I have a feeling that Dominic Lovett and RaRa Thomas will be settled in and making plays for the Bulldogs at this point. Look for Beck to be settled in as well and for Georgia to have an explosive game inside Sanford Stadium.
Georgia 49 – UAB 10
September 30 at Auburn
Georgia’s first match up against Auburn with Hugh Freeze at the helm. Jordan Hare is a dangerous place to play and you can bet that it will be loud when the Bulldogs are on the field. Auburn has generated a lot of buzz on the recruiting trail in recent week. Right now, however, this roster is not very good. Depth is lacking on both lines of scrimmage and the Tigers have questions at quarterback. That’s a bad recipe vs. Georgia. This game could be closer than some think for a few quarters, but Georgia is way too much for Auburn right now. Look for Georgia to score at least once on defense and maybe more if Freeze takes a lot of chances.
Georgia 45 – Auburn 14
Photo: Jay Biggerstaff | Getty Images
October 7 vs. Kentucky
Mark Stoops has found a way to play Georgia tough and, quite frankly, his team gave UGA fits last year. Georgia found a way to win 16-6 but the Wildcats left that game knowing they missed some chances. For whatever reason this team is one that has some confidence against the Bulldogs. Will Branson Robinson be in the rotation at this point? How healthy will he be? If Georgia is healthy at the running back position, then you might see it lean on its offensive line and wear the Wildcats down. I think Mykel Williams will be a household name around the league by this point as well. Look for him to have a couple of sacks here against these Wildcats’ edge protectors.
Georgia 27 – Kentucky 13
October 14 at Vanderbilt
Bulldog nation will likely take over this town again, especially with the Commodores not on the 2024 schedule. It may be awhile before Georgia plays in The Music City again, so expect a lot of Red and Black in the 615. The Commodores beat Florida and Kentucky last year, so this roster is getting a lot better. AJ Swann will want to play well seeing as how he grew up a Georgia fan. He grew a lot last season. It was 55-0 last year but I expect this one to be closer. Still, Georgia is much better. There will be a lot of touchdowns and Goody powders for Bulldog fans on this trip.
Georgia 38 – Vanderbilt 7
October 28th vs. Florida in Jacksonville (3:30 on CBS)
Georgia should enter the annual cocktail party with Florida as an undefeated team. The Gators, in year two under Billy Napier, will likely have a better season going than this time last year. You don’t want to be worried about quarterback play when you go up against Georgia. Elite quarterback and wide receiver play is really the only thing that has given Georgia problems the past couple of season. I don’t see that right now with this Gator team. Brock Bowers could be gaining some Heisman momentum and with this game on national television, I expect him to get a lot of targets. I expect Damon Wilson and Jordan Hall to be in the rotation on defense at this point.
Georgia 37 – Florida 13
November 4 vs. Missouri
Georgia trailed the Tigers, on the road, in the fourth quarter last season. There’s always that one head-scratcher game per season. I don’t think this is the one this year with Georgia coming back home. Kirby Smart can point back to last year’s game all week long. This time Dominic Lovett will be on the other sideline and something tells me he has a big game vs his former team.
Georgia 41 – Missouri 10
Bruce Newman / Special to The Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK
November 11 vs. Ole Miss
This is the game where I think Georgia has a fight on its hands. Ole Miss doesn’t worry you too much on defense but you know Lane Kiffin will have a plan on offense. The Bulldogs will be facing a road trip game to Knoxville the following week and that might be on their minds. I think Jaxon Dart will likely be behind center for the Rebels and they also bring the league’s best running back with them in Quinshon Judkins. This could be a game that tests the secondary and Kiffin likes to find a defensive back to attack over and over. Georgia will need all four quarters to put this one away.
Georgia 27 – Ole Miss 20
November 18 at Tennessee
This game has been circled by both fanbases since the match up last year in Athens. This is the latest the Bulldogs have traveled Knoxville, to my knowledge, in many years. You can bet that Vol Nation will bring their A+ game from the stands. Neyland Stadium can get as loud as any in the country and I expect nothing less with this game. How does Josh Heupel show Georgia something different? He knows his team will face a lot of man-to-man coverage against Georgia. After watching Alabama play a ton of zone last year, you knew that Kirby Smart and company were going to come after the Vols. This time, with Joe Milton, does Tennessee take more shots down the field? Georgia is still deeper on both lines of scrimmage, but Tennessee stresses you a ton on offense with the wide splits from their receivers. Georgia would love to lean on its offensive line and run the ball to keep the crowd and the Tennessee offense out of it as much as possible. This game will be four quarters and Carson Beck will likely have to deliver a late drive to seal the deal.
Georgia 28 – Tennessee 24
November 25 – Georgia Tech
Brent Key and company hung with Georgia more than most thought they would last season. Georgia adjusted and took this game over from the second quarter on. Georgia Tech continues to try and flip this roster with recruiting and the portal. Buster Faulkner will know a lot about the Bulldogs, but it will not matter much this season. Georgia could be hitting their stride heading with the SEC Championship game the following week. Yazeed Haynes could be the name that Georgia fans are talking about at this point in the season. I’m hearing a lot of buzz around this young wideout and he could be in the mix by the end of the regular season.
Georgia 48 – Georgia Tech 7
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