Georgia
Three keys to Georgia Bulldogs winning College Football Playoff | Sporting News
If it’s true that failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor, the University of Georgia’s fans and players will have every brat and burger slathered up and soaked for a revenge season after a historical three-peat just slipped through their fingers.
Even though a stinging loss to hated rivals Alabama in the 2023 SEC Championship game in Nick Saban’s final season ended their three-peat dream, Georgia can still cement their dynasty by adding a third championship in four years.
Heading toward the 2024 college football kickoff, the Bulldogs are currently neck-and-neck with Ohio State as betting favorites, and the unanimous preseason No. 1 across every poll. With the thirteenth toughest schedule in the country and road games against Alabama under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, and SEC newcomer and fellow contender Texas led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, Georgia has its work cut out for them.
Fortunately with potential No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Carson Beck at the reins and a best-in-class head coach Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have what it takes to come out on top of a stacked SEC and claim the all important first-round bye in this year’s expanded playoffs. It won’t be easy, but it won’t be impossible. These keys could make the difference:
Stiffen up against the run
Yes, Georgia finished in the top 10 defensively in 2023, but a closer look reveals a weakness in run defense. Georgia was only ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed and 43rd in rushing yards per attempt. The final three games they played last year were their worst, and two Alabama rushing touchdowns sent the Bulldogs packing. Teams that want to slow down the Bulldog’s offense know they can exploit this phase of the game. Hold on to the ball, and grind out an upset. But Georgia is aware of this issue and keen to fix it for 2024.
Three ways SEC teams could get screwed in College Football Playoff
According to defensive end standout Mykel Williams: “Our goal is to be top one in every defensive statistic that matters.”
Score in the red zone
Based on their dynastic run, it’s hard to believe Georgia has anything to improve offensively. But in 2023, the Bulldogs had a nearly 10 percent drop in red zone scoring compared to their 2022 national championship campaign. This was mitigated by the fact that Georgia got into the red zone more times than any other team in the country, but with Georgia trying to climb back to the top of the mountain this season, avoiding missed scoring opportunities could be the difference between hoisting the national championship trophy for a third time in four years or dreaming of what could have been.
Beat Texas
Circle October 19 on the calendar, because that could be the day the SEC champion reveals themselves. Currently, both Georgia and Texas are projected to win 10.5 games, tied for the most in the SEC. But there can be only one team to take the SEC crown and grab a coveted playoff bye. The Longhorns are returning a lot of talent and are ranked third in ESPN’S FPI rankings, behind only Oregon and Georgia. But the good news for Bulldogs fans is that they’ll be watching this game from the seats of Sanford Stadium, where Georgia hasn’t lost since 2019.
In a loaded SEC, Georgia has a tough road ahead. But with the talent, leadership, and program they have in place, their 2024 campaign will be must watch TV every Saturday. Get your popcorn ready!
As temperatures rise across Georgia, cooling costs are also expected to climb this summer. The Georgia Public Service Commission is set to hear one of Georgia Power’s proposed agreements aimed at saving customers money on their power bills.
Georgia Power says its proposed agreements could save the typical customer about $4 a month if approved by the commission.
The proposals involve two separate cases before the PSC. One focuses on fuel costs used to operate power plants, while the second deals with storm recovery costs tied to Hurricane Helene.
Georgia Power and the PSC’s Public Interest Advocacy Staff recently reached agreements in both cases. If approved, the company says the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month could save about $4.04 per month or nearly $50 per year beginning in June.
The proposal comes as a new national report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate projects cooling costs could rise about 8.5% nationwide this year. The report says hotter temperatures and increased energy demand are helping drive costs higher.
Reliable Heating and Air said it is already seeing an increase in service calls across metro Atlanta as more people start using their air conditioning systems.
HVAC experts said homeowners should watch for warning signs, including strange noises, weak airflow, homes cooling slowly or higher-than-normal power bills.
“Biggest mistake they make is not getting a system maintenance,” said Joshua Kelly with Reliable Heating and Air. “A lot of people feel like, ‘Oh no, I don’t have to get maintenance,’ but you most definitely do.”
Experts recommend changing air filters regularly, scheduling maintenance checks, keeping thermostats between 74 and 77 degrees on hot days and addressing airflow problems early.
Resources for Georgia families needing help with cooling costs:
- Georgia LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — Helps eligible low-income households pay heating and cooling bills and may assist during energy emergencies.
- United Way 211 — Connects families with local resources, including utility assistance programs, emergency financial help and community services.
- Partnership for Community Action — Offers utility assistance, energy support programs and other services for eligible families in metro Atlanta.
- Local Community Action Agencies — Many agencies across Georgia provide emergency utility assistance, payment support and additional family resources during extreme heat and high energy demand periods.
ATLANTA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University Hospital are monitoring two Georgia residents following a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that resulted in three deaths.
Atlanta hospital monitoring
What we know:
A couple returned to Georgia last week and was moved Monday to Emory University Hospital for specialized monitoring. One of the passengers showed mild symptoms of the virus but has since tested negative. Both individuals were passengers on the MV Hondius, a ship where the Andes variant of hantavirus was identified.
The CDC confirmed the patients are being kept in a biocontainment unit designed for highly infectious diseases. Doctors at Emory said one individual is receiving treatment while the other is being monitored, though they emphasize there is no risk to the general public.
Monitoring and travel status
What we don’t know:
Health officials have not confirmed if the passengers will be cleared to leave the hospital or return home before a 42-day period is over. While one test was negative, authorities have not said how many additional tests or how much more observation time is needed before the couple is fully cleared. The exact names and ages of the Georgia residents have not been released due to privacy concerns.
Cruise ship outbreak
The backstory:
The outbreak began in April on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius during a voyage from Argentina. Nine cases have been confirmed and three people died after the virus spread, likely through human-to-human transmission of the Andes strain. This specific strain is known for causing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a severe respiratory illness.
Low public risk
Big picture view:
While the Andes variant is serious, the CDC and World Health Organization assess the risk to the general public as low. The virus typically spreads through close contact with bodily fluids or respiration rather than everyday social contact. Federal and state health departments are using established protocols to manage the repatriation and monitoring of the 18 Americans who were on the ship.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered from FOX 5 reporter Kevyn Stewart, who attended a news conference with the CDC and Emory University Hospital, as well as official statements from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the World Health Organization.
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