Georgia Football: Bulldogs Will Be Tested Early

Just like last season, the Georgia Bulldogs will have two of their toughest tests at the start of the season. The Bulldogs open the 2014 season against the Clemson Tigers in Athens, followed by a trip to Columbia, SC to play the South Carolina Gamecocks. Luckily for the Bulldogs, Clemson will not be as strong as they were last season. The Tigers lost a large amount of their offensive production to the NFL, giving the Bulldogs the edge.

As for the game against the Gamecocks, Georgia will have the tough task of playing at Williams-Brice Stadium. The last time the Bulldogs were in Columbia, the team got embarrassed. If the Bulldogs want to beat the Gamecocks for the second season in a row, they will need to come ready to play. The Bulldogs do have the luxury of having a bye week in the second week of the season, which should help their chances.

It is obvious that both these games will be tough, but I believe the Bulldogs’ biggest test of the season will be the trip to Columbia. The Gamecocks are hungry for a win over their division rival. No matter how good the Gamecocks are, they always play the Bulldogs close. Expect the game to be a physical battle between two teams that don’t like each other.

If the Bulldogs can escape the first two games of the season, the rest of the year should set up nicely. I believe that the Bulldogs’ experience opening the 2013 season against two highly-ranked opponents will give them the confidence they need in 2014. If they can start the season 2-0, I believe the Bulldogs will likely have cemented a spot in the SEC championship game.

Matt Maddux is a SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Dawgomatic229, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.