As we gear up for the new college football season, all eyes are on Georgia. Vegas oddsmakers have set their win projection at 9.5, which, while the highest in the SEC, suggests some skepticism about the Bulldogs' upcoming performance. This is intriguing, considering Kirby Smart has only missed the 10-win mark once in his tenure, and that was during his debut season.
CBS Sports, on the other hand, is taking a much more optimistic view. They’re predicting an 11-1 finish for Georgia, dismissing the Vegas line with a sense of confidence.
As John Talty from CBS Sports notes, "The last time Kirby Smart won less than 10 games in a full season was back in 2016, his first year in Athens. With a pretty manageable conference slate in 2026, you should be bullish about the Bulldogs' chances of besting expectations."
Georgia's schedule certainly presents its challenges, but it's nothing new for an SEC powerhouse. The Bulldogs will face tough opponents like Alabama and Ole Miss on the road, with Ole Miss being the predicted stumbling block for their lone loss. They’ll also host Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, and tackle Georgia Tech at a neutral site.
While these matchups are formidable, they're also very winnable. The possibility of Georgia running the table to a 12-0 record might seem ambitious, but it feels more plausible than the 9-3 scenario suggested by Vegas. CBS Sports clearly believes in Georgia's potential this season, even if the oddsmakers are a bit more cautious.