Just when you thought Georgia had it tough before, this season’s schedule has been a nightmare straight out of the SEC’s Wildest dreams. Nobody had it like Georgia and Kirby Smart, the tough schedule. The Bulldogs have gone up against heavy hitters like Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss, and Clemson, and now they’ve got No. 6 Tennessee next week. It’s not shocking that they’ve stumbled, losing nail-baiting one-possession score football against Alabama and a week 11 upset by Ole Miss Rebels. Back in August, when the schedule was released, no one seemed to care about how scary it looked. Many analysts and experts believe that a tough schedule was their biggest struggle.

Now, as the losses pile up, it’s clear how overlooked that challenge was. Even an ESPN Senior writer had to admit. “We said in August their schedule was awful, and no one was talking enough about it… and now we’ve seen that, you know, come to fruition.” Georgia fans are now feeling the pain, and they aren’t alone. College football insiders are buzzing about whether the CFP committee will consider just how difficult Georgia’s road has been.

Rece Davis, in particular, didn’t hold back and made a strong case for the Bulldogs “But if you get through this,” Davis explained, “and Georgia loses to Tennessee in a close game, loses a one-possession game to Alabama, wins at Texas… now all of a sudden, you’re going to look at that and equate it with all of these teams that haven’t beaten anyone or maybe even played anyone of the same caliber of team that Georgia has now played or will play by the end of this weekend.” Davis’ words were on the money. If you think about it, how many playoff contenders have faced anything close to this type of schedule?

Davis also put a spotlight on the brewing storm around the CFP Committee judgement. The upcoming 12-team playoff form is supposed to even things out, but this season will test that theory. “The football judgment of the committee in this 12-team playoff, and the way this season is unfolding, will be on full display, and it will ruffle some people,” he warned. Davis even suggested that ex-players and coaches on the committee would recognize the near-impossible task Georgia has faced. Here comes the big “but” here: Carson Beck, Georgia’s QB, must step in and pull out a clutch performance. “If Georgia is going to get the benefit of the doubt, Carson Beck has to play better.” emphasizing that Beck’s consistency is hurting the Bulldogs’ case.

Georgia’s playoff picture

As for Georgia’s playoff scope, it’s a bit complicated. The Athletics model had predicted Georgia’s chances of making the playoff fell to 69%. After their upset by the Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway on 10 November. Davis threw out a hypothetical scenario that could shake up the rankings. “I’m really hoping for… a seven-way tie among two-loss teams behind whoever wins the Texas-Texas A&M game,” he said, adding, “But what would be even better is if one of those teams somehow fell to somebody they’re not supposed to and they all wind up with two losses. That would be awesome; that would just be fascinating.” Seems like Davis already made a script in his mind and praying for this chaotic tie. That could potentially keep Georgia in the conversation. But that isn’t enough. Gotta address the elephant in the room.

Currently, you can’t reasonably blame their defense. The real downfall of the Georgia Dynasty is Carson Beck. Carson needs to step up very badly, period. He’s the reason that some Bulldogs fans can’t sleep at night. Carson Beck has been going through the interception phrase for some time now. This season he threw 12 interceptions against 17 touchdowns, and that turnover would be the end of the Bulldogs’s season. For Georgia and Smart Kirby to advance into playoffs, Carson Beck has to pull himself together. And, should put stellar performance next week against Scary-looking Volunteers and squeeze into playoffs. If he fails to step up, then all goes down the drain. Every game is now do-or-die for the Bulldogs.