During the off-season, I find myself diving deep into daydream rabbit holes thinking about football season.
I wish there was a good NFL game tonight (I'm writing this on a Monday), then perhaps some #MACtion on Tuesday, maybe a Mountain West game on Wednesday and a solid Thursday night match-up to keep me going through the week.
Instead, I survive on a diet of St. Louis Cardinals push notifications on my cell phone.
It isn't enough.
I think I'm a college football addict, folks.
Anyway, now that my initial rambling is finished, let's go back to those ponderings I mentioned before. The other day my pondering was: What would be a "good" year for 2017?
I can't seem to peg a consensus among Georgia fans.
Some say at LEAST 10-2 against this schedule, and an SEC title. Others say 9-3, as long as we pass the eye test. Some say nothing short of 15-0 and a national championship.
Others, like me to some extent, say it depends on which games fall in the "W" column, and which ones are L's.
I'd say the base record for a "good" season is 9-3, and it must include the following:
- Beat Georgia Tech
- Beat one of Tennessee, Florida or Auburn (none of which are home games, I might add.)
- Lose no home games (Have you actually SEEN the schedule? Yikes.)
I know, I know. That particular version of 9-3 would have to include another road loss to either Notre Dame or Vanderbilt, neither of which I would rule out. But, I think if Georgia went 9-3, with losses only to the Irish, Gators and Tigers, it wouldn't be a terrible season. Would it be ideal? No.
But for me, that's the baseline. Meet those criteria, and I'd consider it a good year.
Not great, but good.
So, the obvious follow-up. What would be a great season?
I'm glad you asked.
Here's what I would call a great season.
- Beat Georgia Teach
- Lose no home games
- Beat two of Tennessee, Florida or Auburn
- Finish with no more than two losses
I'd say 10-2, with no more than one loss to a regular rival, would be a great season. Plus, if the losses fall the right way, that'd probably net an SEC East title. Let's say, 10-2 with losses to Notre Dame and Auburn. That would, by default, mean an undefeated season against the East (with only one loss to the West), and therefore a bunch of tie-breakers that would make it impossible for anyone else to win it outright.
Yeah, let's shoot for that. That'd be a good season.
But, for now, all we can do is wait.
Sigh.
