Around the SEC: Georgia football a level above, but Alabama rising once more

By Mike Griffith

October 18, 2021 at 10:36 am EDT

Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis (99) during the Bulldogs game against South Carolina in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Photo by Tony Walsh) (Tony Walsh)

By Mike Griffith

October 18, 2021 at 10:36 am EDT

ATHENS — It’s Georgia football and the rest of college football after the Bulldogs dispatched Kentucky, pulling away after an ugly first half for a 30-13 win.

Georgia has been ranked in the preseason Top 5 each of the past four years, an annual national championship contender under Smart that doesn’t look to drop off any time soon based on the quality depth that has been built through the recruiting.

The No. 1-ranked Bulldogs actually took a hit in the transfer portal this past offseason, most notably losing safeties Major Burns (LSU) and Tyrique Stevenson (Miami), either of whom would be starting in this beat-up secondary.

And yet, it’s a Georgia team that still leads the nation in scoring defense (6.57 points per game) and total defense (208.4 yards), while ranking second in pass efficiency defense (94.59) and rush defense (63.6 yards).