2006 record: 9-4, 4-4 (3rd-tie in SEC East)
2006 bowl: Beat Virginia Tech 31-24 in Chick-fil-A
2006 final AP/coaches' ranking: 23/unranked
Coach: Mark Richt (61-17, 6 years)
Offensive coordinator: Mike Bobo (1 year, 7th at school)
Defensive coordinator: Willie Martinez (3rd year, 7th at school)
Returning offensive starters: 7
Returning defensive starters: 4
Location: Athens, Ga.
Stadium: Sanford (grass, 92,756)
Last league title: 2005
2007 schedule: [view]
2006 statistics: [view]

Offensive: It might not happen this season, but sophomore Matthew Stafford will become the SEC’s best quarterback. He has everything — except experience. He also has won the confidence of Mike Bobo, the offensive coordinator, who now calls the plays. Bobo and Stafford have great options now that several of Georgia’s skill-position players are healed from injuries. Senior running back Kregg Lumpkin, who wasn’t the same since a knee injury three years ago, made it all the way back and became Georgia’s leading rusher. If senior Thomas Jones makes it back from his own knee injury, the Bulldogs will have the SEC’s best depth at the position. Meanwhile, junior wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, the team’s top target, will be bolstered by the presence of senior Mikey Henderson, a deep threat, and senior Sean Bailey, another player back from a knee injury. The offensive line has improved drastically.

Defensive: Two senior stars — defensive tackle Jeff Owens and cornerback Paul Oliver — are surrounded by plenty of young players. But make no mistake: Georgia’s defense has an exceptionally pronounced upside. Young playmakers abound, most notably sophomore linebacker Darius Dewberry, freshman safety Reshad Jones and junior safety CJ Byrd. Georgia coaches are counting on quick maturation from the linebacker corps and big production from the undersized defensive ends, sophomore Roderick Battle and senior Marcus Howard.

Specialists: Potentially a great strength. Kickoff returner Asher Allen and punt returner Mikey Henderson should rank among the nation’s best. There are no worries with place-kicker Brandon Contu (10-for-11 on field-goal attempts, while weathering a hamstring injury) and new punter, junior Brian Mimbs, looks like he’ll maintain the standard of Gordon Ely-Kelso. If not, the punting job could fall to Drew Butler, son of former Georgia place-kicker Kevin Butler.

Game of the year Oct. 27, vs. Florida at Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia has dropped 15 of its last 17 meetings against the Gators. It’s about time for the Bulldogs to get over this hump.

Coaching: Mark Richt has been criticized for being too conservative, especially in Georgia’s biggest games, but how can you argue with his resurrection (61-17 in six seasons) of Georgia’s program? He has built a solid organization and a steady stream of blue-chip players have been arriving in Athens. 

Heisman Hopefuls: Stafford has the right stuff to contend … in 2008.

Overview: Last season had the makings of a major disaster — at one point, Georgia had dipped to 6-4 with losses against Vanderbilt and Kentucky — but a season-finishing three-game winning streak kept alive some good feelings. Georgia is definitely on its way back as a perennial top 10 team, but first it must consistently conquer its biggest rivals (Florida, Tennessee) in the SEC. That’s a tall order for the young Bulldogs.

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