Underneath the Mercedes-Benz Stadium dome in Atlanta will be a dogfight, or maybe a duckfight, between the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 11 Oregon Ducks.

The visiting Ducks get quite the test to start the Dan Lanning experience as they open the season against a top five opponent. They brought in a new staff across the board after Mario Cristobal took the Miami job, highlighted by former Georgia defensive coordinator Lanning, but the talent on the team still ranks toward the top of the Pac-12.

For the Bulldogs, it was a storybook season in 2021. They clinched an undefeated regular season and their first national championship since 1980 behind a historic defense and an underrated offense. 15 players from the title run are off to the NFL, including eight from the defense, but Kirby Smart’s team won’t lack in returning talent whatsoever.

Doug’s Take on Georgia/Keys to Win

For a team that is known for its defense, the offense might actually be better this year. Georgia had a lot of games finish early last year, so a lot of depth players had meaningful snaps. Because of the continuation that the Bulldogs have offensively, they should have an advantage over former defensive coordinator Dan Lanning. 

The actual key here is to test the inexperienced Oregon secondary. While some people would think to test the run defense of Oregon, Georgia is currently down to four scholarship running backs. Even star running back Kendall Milton is not 100% healthy for this matchup. Oregon has also recruited heavily on the defensive line, and its linebacker core has not imploded like it did last year. Georgia will need to preserve its bodies for later on in the season. The Bulldogs have depth at receiver with talent such as Ladd McConkey and Kearis Jackson, not to mention the tight ends that can moonlight out wide in Brock Bowers and Arik Gilbert.

Dylan’s Take on Georgia/Keys to Win

There might be an even more impressive defensive line in Athens than last year. Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith are going to be an unstoppable force now that they are the undisputed leaders of the defensive front. The defense, while under new management after Lanning’s departure and attempting to mold many new starters into expanded roles, will still be dominant. And while the offense may not blow people away, there’s reason to believe that this offense will be better than last year’s, headlined by a terrifying tight end trio, a savvy veteran quarterback, and a burly offensive line.

For the Bulldogs to win, they must win on the line of scrimmage, particularly against Oregon’s impressive offensive line. Oregon quarterbacks have not faced much pressure during the past half decade thanks to stout pass blocking, but you won’t find a defensive unit anywhere near the caliber of Georgia’s out west. 

Doug’s Take on Oregon/Keys to Win

Oregon will need to open up running lanes. While Zion Logue is a great player and is an admirable replacement for Jordan Davis, he is not Jordan Davis. Davis will occupy running lanes by himself. Because of that, along with the insane sideline to sideline speed of the linebacker core the previous year, running on Georgia was a futile task. Now that everyone has essentially departed, Oregon can take advantage of that by running the ball. Oregon is returning all of its starters on the offensive line, and the Ducks have four running backs in Byron Cardwell, Mar’Keise Irving, Noah Whittington, and Sean Dollars who can all play a part in the potential win. 

Dylan’s Take on Oregon/Keys to Win

This is a very new team, but if spring and fall camp are telling of one thing, it’s that the Ducks offense will be much more explosive in 2022. Oregon players have raved all offseason about how the playmakers get the ball in space and how the system sets them up to win in one-on-one situations. The Ducks have a vast array of game-changing playmakers on offense, and likely starting quarterback Bo Nix should have his best supporting cast yet.

For the Ducks to pull off the upset, the offensive line must hold its own, and the young linebackers and secondary must limit the Bulldogs’ tight end trio of Brock Bowers, Arik Gilbert, and Darnell Washington. Utah’s tight end duo Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid gashed the Ducks twice last year, consistently finding themselves open in the middle of the field. The Ducks must learn from those games and limit the three-headed behemoth, because you just can’t stop it.

Doug’s Players to Watch

Georgia — Arik Gilbert could be the potential x-factor for Georgia. While Lanning is familiar with Gilbert from the LSU days and from having interacted with him while at Georgia, Todd Monken will be creative in how he uses Gilbert. At a program that has very special specimens, Gilbert might be the the perfect mismatch out wide against an Oregon secondary that lost both of its starting corners from last year. The one advantage Oregon has is that Gilbert isn’t the type of talent that teams need safety help over the top. 

Oregon — Brandon Dorlus will definitely be a contributing factor if Oregon does pull off the upset. While Broderick Jones, Sedrick Van Pran, and Warren McClendon are very stout lineman, the weakness Georgia has is with the guards. Last year, when the running game had issues generating lanes, the Bulldogs would move left tackle Jamaree Salyer inside in order to fix this. Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss are talented, but Truss was a backup and Ratledge was out for the year after an injury Week 1 vs. Clemson. Dorlus can generate pressure on the inside and force Stetson Bennett IV to make rash decisions. That is where Oregon can take advantage. Alabama was able to get to him in the SEC Championship Game, and Georgia isn’t built to pass from behind. Follow that blueprint, and the Ducks will do well. 

Dylan’s Players to Watch

Georgia — Nolan Smith matched up against TJ Bass will be very fun to watch and a tape that will be worn out by NFL scouts for months to come. Smith is a freakish athlete who can make plays from either side of the line, and if the Dawgs want to exploit any weaknesses, they should line him up on the right side against Steven Jones. Jones is a talented, experienced player, but a player of Smith’s talent, size, and skill would have his way on the right side.

Oregon — If Oregon’s offense is to be explosive and exciting once again, it will be in large part due to Seven McGee. The New York kid is the closest thing the Ducks have had to a De’Anthony Thomas or a Kenjon Barner in years. He began his career as a running back but made the switch late last season to slot receiver, and he’s picked up the position very well. The Ducks should be creative when they unleash McGee as they can use him in a variety of ways.

Doug’s Score Prediction

Georgia 37 – Oregon 17. I do think the Dan Lanning tenure at Oregon will be successful, but it will not be successful on Saturday. Georgia has played against Bo Nix and Kenny Dillingham when Kenny was the offensive coordinator at Auburn in 2019 . The Bulldogs know what to expect, which is a win. The Ducks will keep it close due to them having a stout defense at first, but once the first turnover comes, then it will be a snowball effect.

Dylan’s Score Prediction

Georgia 28 – Oregon 20. I think the Oregon defense will be impressive in its debut under Lanning and Tosh Lupoi, but the Dawgs’ defense will make plays and force turnovers to give their offense a short field. I wouldn’t be surprised if they score a defensive touchdown in this one to make the difference.