The "safe" pick for the East this year is Georgia but I'm starting to think that has more to do with the weaknesses of the other 6 teams than the fact that Georgia is a standout team. As pointed out in the linked article from The Bleacher Report, the Dawgs lost most of their receiving corp from last year, are searching for a QB and whoever it turns out to be will not have much experience. They also are plugging a lot of holes along their defensive line. Throw in a new OC coordinator and the normal learning curve and all of a sudden it looks like Mr. Chubb, may not be enough to get the Dawgs to Atlanta, as fantastic a player as he is. To make it even worse the Dawgs catch Bama and Auby out of the West this year - arguable two of the 3 best teams.
Personally I think the East is wide open this year and a team like Tennessee or Kentucky could take the prize. I put my Prop bet in yesterday on the CATS to win the East, if they do I win $2K
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...dium=newsletter&utm_campaign=college-football
I don't think we are a lock because of the qb situation. But the WR thing isn't exactly correct. Malcome Mitchell and Jon Wesley Scott were our starting WR in 13, both had season ending knee injuries, Mitchell in the first game and had a cleanup procedure done the week before our opener last season and missed first half of the season. Wesley-Scott was injured in the Tennessee game and was averaging over 20 yards per catch when he was hurt, he just had the cleanup procedure done a month ago. Without the injuries they would have been our starting WR last year. We aren't very deep there for sure, we have a Jr who hasn't played much, a walkon, and a soph who is our return man, Issiah McKinsey. We will look for a couple of the true frosh to contribute.
But you are right, QB is a huge concern, its why Lambert was taken, he left Virginia because he wasn't named the starter so I don't think he came to UGA to sit. He is a smart guy, but had a big number of interceptions, if he can cut down on those its hard for me to imagine him being a worse qb than we played last year.
Being able to stop the run is a concern of mine, we lose both ILB who were our leading tacklers, a starting DE and a starting NT and a CB. The 2 linemen were serviceable SEC linemen, nothing more, one of the true frosh will play a lot at both down positions. A frosh may start at the CB position or it could be a JUCO kid who RS last year because of an injury, the true frosh by mid year will be starting. MLBs, no idea whats going to happen, we have 2 who played last year, a transfer from UAB who was their leading tackler or 2 frosh, one an early entry and had a monster spring, leading tackler in our spring game and the other a smaller much quicker guy. It was also reported that they experimented with moving Floyd inside some on passing downs to either rush or play in cover. I think that is to get our 3 best defensive players on the field at the same time, Jenkins and Carter.
Having Bama and UT back to back makes the schedule pretty tough. Bama's offensive strength was our defensive weakness and our offensive strength runs into Bama's defensive strength. We will have to play about a perfect game to win it. If UT was any other week I would feel pretty good about it, but coming out of the Bama game win or lose will be a tough test back to back. I think Missouri, UT or UGA could win the east, I think UK is a year away from contending, no idea where UF is, Vandy is a complete trainwreck and SOS is pissed because everyone is writing him and Carolina off.
![[roll]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/roll.r191677.gif "roll [roll]")
