The Georgia Bulldogs are starting to get really noticed by the college football world. Despite entering a bye week, Georgia moved up one spot in the Ap Top 25 and two spots in the Week 8 Coaches Poll. Not only that, but the college football power rankings have also given Georgia a boost, with most analysts now feeling that this team could be good enough to play in the College Football Playoff.
At 7-0 this season, the Georgia Bulldogs have taken care of every team on their schedule to this point. That includes nice wins over Notre Dame (20-19) and Mississippi State (31-3).
Both opponents were ranked during those games, giving the Bulldogs a bit of a boost with the computer rankings. As the team rests before taking on the Florida Gators on Oct. 28, it’s possible that more upsets could help them during the Week 8 college football games.
Updated Week 8 power rankings
After beating the Missouri Tigers 53-28, ESPN has moved Georgia up to No. 3 in its latest college football power rankings. The team had been in the No. 4 slot, but when the Washington Huskies lost to the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Clemson Tigers lost to the Syracuse Orange, it cleared a path for the Bulldogs. The only two schools left ahead of them in these particular rankings are the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Penn State Nittany Lions.
In the CBS college football power rankings, analyst Dennis Dodd has moved Georgia up to No. 2 and ahead of Penn State. This is exactly where fans of the Bulldogs want the school to be, as they are now in striking distance of Alabama. Dodd had some glowing comments about the Bulldogs. “As if things couldn't get any better, Jake Fromm posted his first 300-yard passing game against Missouri.
The 696 total yards were the most in history for the Dawgs against an SEC opponent. Kirby Smart has to be getting some love for national coach of the year.”
Season outlook for the Bulldogs
Penn State has to play Michigan on Oct. 21 and then Ohio State on Oct. 28, raising the possibility that the Nittany Lions could get upset once or twice in the next 10 days.
That would certainly help the Georgia Bulldogs in both college football polls, as it would slide them into the No. 2 slot, even as they come off a bye. On the flip side of that possibility, two wins by Penn State might cement the team a higher ranking than Georgia for the rest of the college football season.
It already helped Georgia a lot when former No. 3 Oklahoma got knocked off, giving the Bulldogs a nice boost in all the college football rankings. If Penn State or Alabama were to get upset within the next two weeks, Georgia might even be looking at the No. 1 spot. The team currently leads the SEC East at 7-0, with an important game against second-place Kentucky (5-1) schedule on Nov. 18.
Winning that game would secure a spot in the SEC Championship Game, likely against Alabama or Auburn. It’s a stepping-stone game, where a win would guarantee that the Georgia Bulldogs make the College Football Playoff.
