ATHENS — ESPN analyst Jordan Rodgers says Georgia football could be on the brink of a national championship season if the Bulldogs can get past the Gators.
Right now, Rodgers doesn’t predict that to happen.
Rodgers, appearing on Birmingham’s WJOX “Three Man Front” show on Tuesday, likes what he knows about the Bulldogs.
“I think Florida is gonna beat Georgia, that’s my prediction,” Rodgers said. “The reason I say that is because there are a lot of unknowns with Georgia in how their offense is going to come together.
“They have an elite defense. They have a national championship defense, no doubt.”
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But what Georgia hasn’t had, Rodgers pointed out, is time for the offense to come together under first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
The Bulldogs will also have a new quarterback under center with the departure of three-year starter Jake Fromm.
Transfer quarterbacks Jamie Newman and JT Daniels are both talented, but also, both playing in a new system.
“The problem is you’ve got two quarterbacks that are extremely talented, you have a new offensive coordinator, and you’ve had zero time in the spring to do anything,” Rodgers said. “You don’t know how quick that offense comes around.
“I don’t think it comes around quick enough to beat Bama early, and I’ve been predicting that I think this is Florida’s’ year in the (East),” he said. “But if it’s not, and Georgia has that one loss to Bama and they do end up getting their offense around where it needs to top Florida, this is a team that is a national championship team, no doubt.”
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Rodgers said he expects Georgia to be in the conversation for the College Football Playoffs.
“They are so close to Florida,” Rodgers said. “I’m giving Florida a slight edge just because of the question marks Georgia has on offense, and how quickly it can come together. But man, they are there.”
Rodgers said it Florida doesn’t win the East over Georgia, Tennessee would be the most likely team in the division that could.
“You now they won six out of their last seven, and if Jarrett Guarantano hands the ball off against Alabama, that’s a different ball game (last season),” Rodgers said. “Jeremy Pruitt has this team headed in the right direction. They are gonna be a tough out for everybody.
“I think this is the year where they are right there with Georgia and Florida, and it’s gonna come down to how they plan in those games. But they are going to have an opportunity to, call it an upset if you want, over Florida and Georgia. They are gonna be in those football games.”
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