2024 Georgia Football Projections

Mar 5

Mar 5 2024 Georgia Football Projections on the HG

Jake Wimberly

Ben Parker Contributing

What’s to like:

Georgia’s secondary has been outstanding the last few years. With elite defensive backs Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith departing for the NFL, Georgia looks to reload. Talented DB’s Daniel Harris and Julian Humphrey will be sticking around along with junior Daylen Everette. Not to mention freshman five-star safety K.J. Bolden.

There has been a wealth of talent coming through Athens in the last few years and Georgia has been able to recruit and send players to the NFL. Georgia ranks 3rd in recruiting nationally (three-year metric.)

Quarterback Carson Beck will be returning alongside UNLV transfer Jayden Maiva, Gunnar Stockton and Ryan Puglisi. A QB room full of talent.

Kirby Smart. With Nick Saban retiring in January he is the top “dawg” so to speak.

What’s not to like:

Despite gaining talent via the transfer portal, key players on offense will be leaving Athens. All-American tight end Brock Bowers has declared for the NFL Draft, wide receiver Ladd McConkey, and top running backs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton.

Georgia has one of the toughest schedules in the SEC, only second to Florida. Road games against Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss and projected one-possession ball games against Clemson, Auburn, and Tennessee will prove difficult for the Bulldogs. Georgia will have to hang tough in the regular season if they want a shot at playing in another SEC Championship game.

What does the Hourglass say?

2024 Georgia – SEC (11-1)

Four-year analytic percentage of Georgia = 93 percent

2024 Georgia Analytics

National Recruiting Ranking (three-year metric): 3rd - inside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.

National Coaching Ranking: Kirby Smart - 1st in the country, 1st in SEC; 2024 coaching value= 33 (average 2023 Power 5 coaching value= 8.35) Kirby Smart ranks high above the national average and has built an elite program.

ODE Analytics for 2023 nationally:

Offensive Rank: 3rd

Defensive Rank: 12th

Quarterback Play: Carson Beck- ranked 13th in the Power 5, 3rd in the SEC; 2024 QB value=23. Above the (Power 5 average- 14.78)

Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Georgia has a 2 on a scale of 1-5, skill talent is lacking.

From Vegas:

Georgia ATS in 2023: 5-8-1

Georgia at home: 2-4-1

Georgia on the road: 1-3-0

Georgia at neutral site: 2-1-0

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Georgia missed a shot at a three-peat last year and were left out of the College Football Playoff, but things are far from over for the Bulldogs. The program has thrived under Kirby Smart and in the rapidly-changing landscape of college football, they have the potential to adapt and continue a winning tradition. With recruiting gains and top-tier coaching, they will be a factor this year for sure. Bringing back pocket-passer Carson Beck and other starters is something many teams have been unable to do in the era of NIL and the transfer portal. In the face of their toughest regular season schedule in a few years, this Georgia team will be tested many times throughout the season. Georgia has only gone under 10 wins once in the last eight years and they have a good shot to do it again and contend for another national title.

2024 Schedule Analysis:

Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.