Ivan Maisel and JD PicKell: Evaluating Georgia’s Week 1 win, Stetson Bennett’s performance

It’s hard to script up a better start to the season for Georgia. The Bulldogs cruised past Oregon 49-3 behind a career day from Stetson Bennett — and On3’s Ivan Maisel had one word to sum up the performance.

“‘Wow,” he said. “That was my first thought.”

Maisel joined On3’s J.D. PicKell for “3 Questions with Ivan Maisel” to talk about the Bulldogs’ showing, led by 368 yards from Bennett. He said Georgia made a statement with its first post-national championship performance.

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“They didn’t look like a Labor Day weekend team, J.D.,” Maisel said. “I thought both sides of the ball, they looked very efficient. Kirby Smart talked Monday about the mistakes they made, and you would expect him to. That’s what coaches do.

“But I was struck by the plays they made against what we thought was a pretty good team. The game was never in doubt and they dominated in a way that makes you sit up and take notice.”

Ivan Maisel: If people aren’t giving Stetson Bennett his due, they’re not paying attention

The Georgia defense got plenty of attention last season, and understandably so. The Bulldogs had the best unit in the country and it was a big reason they were able to end their national championship drought. But Bennett and the offense showed they made strides over the offseason and now, the question is whether people are giving the former walk-on the credit he deserves.

Maisel said he’s more than earned it.

“If they’re not, they’re not paying attention,” Maisel said. “Granted, this kind of play Saturday was a star turn by Stetson Bennett and that’s not something we’ve seen. We saw it a little bit in the second half against Alabama, especially in the fourth quarter. But this was a guy who looked comfortable, who made plays, made things happen. Again, this is against a coach who knows him and to throw for a career-high 368 [yards] is really something.”

PicKell agreed, citing Bennett’s presence in the offense. He pointed to a few different factors in that success, including how long he’s been with the program.

“Stetson Bennett just looked super in control, in command,” PicKell said. “He really looked like a new level of comfortable in that offense. Maybe it has something to do with Oregon, maybe it’s the fact that he’s been there for what feels like 27 years now. But all that’s to say if Stetson Bennett plays like that the duration of the season, Georgia should be in poll position for another SEC title.”

JD PicKell: Georgia isn’t taking any steps back from 2022

Heading into the game, Las Vegas oddsmakers had Georgia as a 17-point favorite, according to VegasInsider. But PicKell was wondering if the Bulldogs could cover considering the newcomers on defense and how Bo Nix would look after his transfer from Auburn.

The Bulldogs answered those questions quickly — and proved they’re not regressing at all.

“I was surprised at just how wide the gap was, because I thought … ‘Georgia is the better team. Are they going to cover that 17-point spread? I don’t know. Bo Nix, when he ad-libs, eight new faces on defense for Georgia. Their former DC is on the other sideline as a head coach,'” PicKell said. “But to have it a 46-point win just made me kind of take a step back … and say, ‘Whoa, Georgia is not taking any steps back in terms of what they’re doing in 2022.'”