2012 SEC Preview: Georgia

As the 2012 college football season draws nearer, Crimson White Sports will take a look at each team in the SEC, give our thoughts on how they will do in the league this year, and give some key matchups vs. Alabama, if they are on the Tide’s 2012 schedule. Up next: Georgia.

2011 record: 10-4 (7-2 SEC)

Final AP ranking: 19

Georgia started off the 2011 season doing the unthinkable for an SEC team: losing to Boise State. The Bulldogs fell 35-21 in Atlanta in the Chick-Fil-A kickoff, after entering 2011 with high hopes. They had Aaron Murray returning at quarterback, had just signed the top running back in the country in Isaiah Crowell and didn’t face Arkansas, Alabama or LSU from the West. But Georgia couldn’t put things together right out of the gate, losing their first two games to Boise and South Carolina.

Then things started clicking for the Bulldogs as they reeled off 10 straight wins, including a 24-20 win over Florida and a 45-7 drubbing of Auburn. But, the Bulldogs were the unfortunate team from the East that had to meet LSU in the SEC Title game where their losing streak came to an end in spectacular fashion, falling 42-10.

In the Capitol One Bowl vs. Michigan State, Georgia allowed a touchdown with 14 seconds left that tied the game, and ended up losing after three overtimes, 33-30.

Key returning starters: QB Aaron Murray, OLB Jarvis Jones, FS Bacarri Rambo

2012 outlook: Everything appears to line up perfectly for the Bulldogs in 2012. They have Aaron Murray back to lead the offense, who will be one of the top quarterbacks in the country and a heisman darkhorse, they have nine returning starters on a defense that will be much improved from 2011, but most importantly, they once again dodge Alabama, LSU and Arkansas from the West, setting them up with one of the easiest schedules in the SEC.

But last week, in one of the most Georgia things ever, with everything going so right for the Bulldogs, star running back Isaiah Crowell was arrested and sent to jail on felony weapons charges and subsequently dismissed from the team. Crowell, who rushed for 850 yards last season, could face up to five years in prison.

The Crowell news certainly put a damper on some of the hype Georgia was carrying into the 2012 season, but even still, the pieces are in place for a return trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. The leadership of Murray coupled with the extremely favorable schedule set up for what could be a memorable year. I think they’ll slip up eventually, but I’ll put the Bulldogs back in Atlanta and say they’ll finish the season with an 11-3 record.

Key games in 2012:

• September 8 @ Missouri
• October 6 @ South Carolina
• October 27 vs. Florida
• November 10 @ Auburn