UGA Perfect season unlikely

Expectations for UGA football growing unrealistic

By JEFF D'ALESSIO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/21/08

Plenty of pollsters have Matthew Stafford and Georgia No. 1 on their college football ballots heading into the fall.

But can the Bulldogs stay there from start to finish, which would likely mean running the table with a schedule that features trips to South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Kentucky and Auburn?

We asked those in the know:

DENNIS DODD

CBS Sportsline

"Preseason No. 1? Yes, by a smidge and subject to change before Aug. 30. Undefeated? Noooo way. This is Georgia, which lost two games last season and looks pretty good next season, not Oklahoma of the '50s. The SEC is still the SEC. Watch out at South Carolina, at Arizona State, at LSU, vs. Florida and at Auburn."

DICK BESTWICK

Harris poll voter/former UGA athletic administrator and Peach Bowl executive director

"I felt Georgia had the quality and quantity of personnel to beat everyone in 2007 and feel even more certain about that this year. However, going undefeated is an uncommon feat and only happens when everything breaks your way. With this schedule, the most difficult schedule I've seen in my 60-plus years of watching this business, winning all 13 games would be a feat of uncommon occurrence and would certainly make you the No. 1 team in the nation. I consider winning them all possible, but highly improbable."

DICK WEISS

AP Top 25 voter/New York Daily News

"I'm just not confident anyone can run the table in the SEC anymore. The league is just too tough. As good as Georgia is, the back-to-back league games with Alabama and Tennessee, then LSU and Florida, scare me."

BILL CURRY

ESPN/Former Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia Tech coach

"Georgia will be very, very good, but I do not think they will go undefeated. It hurts the team to place such huge expectations on them. Just ask the Patriots. South Carolina will be tough at home, Florida will be reminded of last year's game — and 'the demonstration' — ad infinitum, and Georgia Tech will be very, very tough. I think the Dawgs will lose one, maybe two."

DEAN LEGGE

Dawg Post

"It's possible for Georgia to get through the 2008 season without a scratch, but it seems like too much to ask. Back-to-back road trips to Baton Rouge and Jacksonville [against Florida] loom, and home dates with 'Bama and the Vols seem like a real challange. That's not even mentioning the usual suspects: [Georgia] Tech, Auburn and South Carolina. Can it be done? Yes. Will it be done? I have my reservations."

BOBBY BURTON

Rivals.com

"The last two national champions — LSU and Florida — both lost games in conference. To run the gauntlet in the SEC unscathed isn't just about being good; it requires a little bit of fate. It's doubtful, but the ultimate prize could still be attainable."

HERB GOULD

AP Top 25 voter/Chicago Sun-Times

"Undefeated would be a tall order for anybody with that schedule. They could be as good as anybody in the country and still have two or three losses with that schedule. Sort of like '07."

BRUCE FELDMAN

ESPN The Magazine

"It's possible that Georgia can run the table given its talent but I think it's a long shot. The schedule doesn't break well for them with a lot of tough road games. Going to [Arizona State] won't be easy and the back to back of at LSU and Florida is brutal, although that mightv'e just gotten a bit more manageable thanks to [suspended LSU quarterback] Ryan Perrillioux's decision-making process."

MARK SCHLABACH

ESPN.com

"I think it will be nearly impossible, given the road schedule and consecutive games against defending national champion LSU and Florida. Throw in road games at South Carolina, Arizona State and Auburn, and I think it's just too difficult. But if Georgia can navigate the schedule with only one loss, I think the Bulldogs will still have a chance to win the BCS national championship."