Rece Davis explains why Georgia has thin margin of error in 2023

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kirby-smart-explains-what-rivalry-with-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-ramblin-wreck-means-to-him-uga — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart runs onto the field with his team before a game at Mississippi State on Nov. 12, 2022. (Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)

Georgia has won each of the past two national championships and most preseason polls expect the Bulldogs to be back in the College Football Playoff again in 2023. The Bulldogs have a loaded roster and the talent to make it three straight national titles.

However, Rece Davis of ESPN appeared on the Paul Finebaum Show on Thursday and warned that if the Bulldogs slip up, they could be in serious trouble. Davis believes Georgia’s schedule is so easy that it’s possible the Bulldogs could miss out on the CFP with one loss.

“They’ve put themselves in a difficult spot if Tennessee plays well,” Davis said. “Because there won’t be a lot on the resume to back them up for an at-large bid if say they were to lose to the Vols and Tennessee goes to the SEC Championship and potentially wins the SEC Championship, or Alabama or LSU wins the SEC Championship. Georgia wouldn’t have a lot to go on based on what we see on the schedule right now.”

Davis acknowledged that there are teams on the Georgia schedule who could end up being better than expected and perhaps the schedule looks better at the end of the year than it currently does on paper. However, it’s also possible that Georgia has a cakewalk of a schedule outside of the Vols and that it would be tough to overcome a loss.

“They have the trip to Tennessee. And maybe South Carolina is better. And Georgia’s biggest hope, I think, is that somewhere on that schedule that someone is better than advertised or better than expected,” Davis said. “Maybe it’s Kentucky, maybe it’s Ole Miss. I expect Tennessee to be really good. Maybe it’s South Carolina early. Maybe they beat South Carolina early and then the Gamecocks go on and have a really nice season.”

The one caveat Davis made is that if Georgia destroys everyone else then it might still be able to get into the College Football Playoff with a loss. However, if the Bulldogs lose to Tennessee and have a few other close games, they may miss out on a potential three-peat opportunity.

“Football judgment? Probably,” Davis said of Georgia still looking like one of the best four teams, even with a loss. “Look, if they whack everybody by 30 and then lose on a field goal at Tennessee then they’re still probably one of the four best teams. But I’m just saying there’s not a lot of room on that schedule to have many stumbles.”