The Florida-Georgia line is more than a boundry or the name of a country band.
The fine line between winning the SEC East recently has been determined at the showdown between the Gators and the Bulldogs.
Florida has won the last three and captured two straight SEC East titles.
The Bulldogs won three straight against Florida (2011-2013) and Georgia fans hope a new streak starts on Oct. 28.
This could be the first time since 2012 Georgia can have a home-field game at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Kirby Smart’s second season has plenty of potential with all the offensive firepower and the somewhat weak SEC East.
It wasn’t just that the Bulldogs finished 8-5 in Smart’s first season as head coach, but it was upsetting to Georgia fans that the losses were to Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida and Georgia Tech.
This year once again, the Bulldogs have a chance to be great.
Georgia is favored to win over Appalachian State (92.3 percent chance), Samford (98.3) and Mississippi State (78.8).
An upset win at Notre Dame (48.8) and the Bulldogs will be undeated when they travel to face Tennessee (48.8).
A win over the Vols, and Georgia should then roll over Vanderbilt (74.2) and Missouri (83.1) before the big game against Florida.
After the Gators, Georgia should grab a win over South Carolina (77.7)
After a tough road loss to Auburn (26.2), the Bulldogs should finish with wins over Kentucky (79.0) and Georgia Tech (67.9).
If all goes well, Georgia could finish at 10-2.
But if the Bulldogs lose to Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida and Auburn and rival Georgia Tech – the season would be considered a disaster.
The offensive game plan is pretty simple – hand the ball off to either Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.
If Chubb can gain 1,900 yards this season, he could match the legendary Herschel Walker.
Quarterbacks Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm have good receivers but the key to success will be how well the offensive line performs.
Defensively, the Bulldogs need to improve in red-zone defense.
Georgia was 113th in the country in defensive red zone percentage in 2016, allowing opponents to score 90 percent of the time when they got inside the 20.
Smart, the former Alabama defensive coordinator, has to be happy with a potent offense but the key to a succesful season still remains on the other side of the ball.
The defensive line is led by Jonathan Ledbetter and Trent Thompson.
The linebacking corps should be among the nation’s best with Lorenzo Carter, Davin Bellamy, Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick.
Dominick Sanders is the leader of the secondary but others will need to make plays.
The Bulldogs need to get to the SEC title game or one could ask why was Mark Richt replaced?
Georgia Football Schedule
Sept. 2 Appalachian State
Sept. 9 at Notre Dame
Sept. 16 Samford
Sept. 23 Mississippi State
Sept. 30 at Tennessee
Oct. 7 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 14 Missouri
Oct. 28 Florida
Nov. 4 South Carolina
Nov. 11 at Auburn
Nov. 18 Kentucky
Nov. 25 at Georgia Tech