By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

It took to the end of last season before I could finally allow myself to believe the Georgia Bulldogs were a national champion caliber team.

I mean it was literally halftime of the championship game when I thought “Damn, they may actually pull this off.”

I know we’re only a few weeks into the season but I don’t plan on making the same mistake again.

Normally, I would be doubling down on how we need to wait and see what happens over the next few weeks before anointing the Bulldogs as national title contenders; make sure that last year wasn’t some sort of aberration.

I’d mention all the accolades they’re currently receiving are just people being prisoners of the moment and the rest of this column would be spent bringing up all their areas of weakness.

However, this year, I just don’t feel that this way.

For one, despite the reputation, they play in an extremely weak division. I don’t mean it as a backhanded compliment, it’s just the truth.

The difference between Georgia and the rest of the division is like the difference between Guns N’ Roses and a GN’R cover band. The cover band may look the part but they’re not the real thing.

To be honest, the school I went to- Appalachian State- would have just as good a shot to finish 2nd in the SEC East and I truly don’t believe that’s hyperbole.

Even if their schedule was more difficult, I still think I’d feel the same way about Georgia’s potential for this season.

Kirby Smart, in a much shorter time period than I thought possible, has turned Georgia into an extremely solid team, from top to bottom.

Their defense is one of the best the country and the ground game isn’t that far behind. Jake Fromm, one of the main reasons I was hesitant to buy in last year, may never be a Heisman winning quarterback but it doesn’t look like he will suffer from any type of “Sophomore Slump”. (I get the coaching staff wants to get Justin Fields on the field, and I completely understand why. But, unless something drastic happens, this is Fromm’s team and it should be.)

I’m not putting them in the same category as Alabama but I feel like if everything is equal Georgia should be the best team on the field in every game they play, leading up to the SEC Championship game.

It’s not something I’ve ever said about the Bulldogs before and I feel a little uncomfortable saying it now. It basically goes against everything I’ve ever felt about the Georgia program.

Obviously, there are unforeseen circumstances that could happen, mainly injuries, that would change the trajectory of the season.

If you happen to be a superstitious person and blame my sudden confidence in Georgia’s ability last year as the reason for their second half swoon against Alabama, I can understand; it is a bit coincidental.

All I can say is if that is the case, at least I’m expressing that confidence in them early in the season. That way, if I am a jinx, it’s better to happen during the regular season and not when you’re 30 minutes away from a championship, right?

Of course, the kicker is this year I don’t mean to be a jinx. I truly believe Georgia is one of the four best teams in college football and anything less than a playoff appearance should be considered a disappointment. No pressure.