SEC PREVIEW Georgia

No more drama, please

Bulldogs looking to end string of bad luck

Georgia coach Mark Richt speaks to media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days on Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Correction: South Carolina was picked in a preseason poll to win the SEC East by media who cover the league, and Georgia was picked to finish second in the division. This article incorrectly reported the predicted winner.

FAYETTEVILLE -- If injuries and bad luck balance out from year to year, the Georgia Bulldogs should be rolling in clover this season.

In a bad soap opera season of 2013, the Bulldogs lost a string of top receivers to injuries, tailback Keith Marshall to a torn knee ligament, then quarterback Aaron Murray (knee) near the season's end, and top tailback Todd Gurley played with a sore ankle for most of the year.

Georgia schedule

DATE;OPP.;TIME (TV)

Aug. 30;Clemson;4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sept. 13;at South Carolina*;2:30 p.m. (CBS)

Sept. 20;Troy

Sept. 27;Tennessee*

Oct. 4;Vanderbilt*

Oct. 11;at Missouri*

Oct. 18;at Arkansas* (LR)

Nov. 1;vs. Florida*#

Nov. 8;at Kentucky*

Nov. 15;Auburn*

Nov. 22;Charleston Southern

Nov. 29;Georgia Tech

*SEC game

at Jacksonville, Fla.

Georgia glance

LAST SEASON 8-5, 5-3 (3rd) in SEC East

COACH Mark Richt (72-32 in 14th year at Georgia and overall)

RETURNING STARTERS Offense 6, defense 8, special teams 2

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS RB Todd Gurley, WR Chris Conley, WR Malcolm Mitchell, LB Ramik Wilson, PK Marshall Morgan, CB Damian Swann

SEC TITLE SCENARIO If the Bulldogs avoid the injuries that decimated the offense last year and Hutson Mason proves to be a quality quarterback, they could make a deep run. The defense is expected to be significantly stronger under coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.

Georgia was also on the receiving end of a tipped Hail Mary touchdown pass that propelled Auburn to a 43-38 victory and on to the SEC title, but the Bulldogs still managed to go 8-5 with one of the nation's toughest schedules.

The Bulldogs were the top pick by SEC media members last week to win the East Division, and they are a preseason top 10 team according to some analysts.

Georgia's last SEC title came in 2005. The Bulldogs think they can contend this time around.

"We have the potential. We can't promise anything, but that's definitely a goal. Why not?" Gurley said last week at SEC media days.

"I think Georgia can be light years better," senior receiver Chris Conley said.

"Extremely excited about this football team," Georgia Coach Mark Richt said. "I think we have a tremendous culture right now for work ethic."

Georgia will have a familiar look on offense with six starters back and a new feel on defense, where eight returning starters reside with highly regarded coordinator Jeremy Pruitt taking the reins.

Receiver Malcolm Mitchell is returning from his knee injury to rejoin a talented lineup of receivers that includes Conley, Michael Bennett and Justin Scott-Wesley. Marshall is back with Heisman Trophy contender Gurley, and fifth-year senior Hutson Mason takes over at quarterback for Murray, the SEC's all-time passing yardage leader.

Georgia's collection of skill players , working behind a line that must replace three starters, could rank among the nation's best.

"I think we'll transition well," Richt said of the move to Mason.

The Bulldogs touted the veteran Mason at SEC media days.

"Hutson knows that playbook like the Bible," linebacker Ramik Wilson said.

Gurley, who ranked fourth in SEC rushing with 98.9 yards per game last season despite missing three games with an ankle injury he suffered in a 44-41 victory over LSU, said Mason has earned respect.

"Hutson's going to do a great job," Gurley said. "Nobody's going to be Aaron Murray, but Hutson knows a lot of things. I believe in him. The whole team believes in him. He's going to be the leader for this team. This is going to be his team."

Pruitt , a former Alabama defensive back and Crimson Tide assistant, coordinated the defense for BCS national champion Florida State last season. The defensive staff of Pruitt, Tracy Rocker, Kevin Sherrer and Mike Ekeler are all in their first seasons at Georgia.

The Bulldogs surrendered a school-record 377 points last year as well as 375.5 yards per game, the worst of the Richt era, prompting coordinator Todd Grantham to join Bobby Petrino's staff at Louisville and opening the door for Pruitt.

"He's won everywhere he's been," Richt said. "They've all been on college teams that have won national championships. There's a lot of credibility as they come in.

"I think these guys know what it looks like to win big and they've put in a system of how we're going to go about our business. The guys are responding well to that."

The Bulldogs' schedule will be tough again, with their opener against Clemson followed by their SEC opener at South Carolina two weeks later. Georgia plays Arkansas and defending SEC champion Auburn from the SEC West.

Up next: Ole Miss

Sports on 07/23/2014