Joel Klatt defends ranking Georgia at No. 7 in preseason top 25, above Alabama, LSU

Looking at Joel Klatt’s preseason top 25, a trio of SEC teams find themselves in the latter half of the top 10. Alabama, Georgia, and LSU are all ranked beside each other, and maybe surprisingly, the Bulldogs are ahead of the other two. Maybe not what we have seen from other national analysts out there.

Klatt explained the decision, giving quite a simple answer. It comes down to who the head coaches are at all three programs, having the most trust in Kirby Smart. It’s all due to the resume Smart has put together, while Kalen DeBoer and Brian Kelly have yet to do anything of note at their respective schools.

“The team that I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt over LSU and over Alabama,” Klatt said. “Because Nick Saban is not there and Brian Kelly has really never done it at LSU. So, the team grouped together in that SEC pocket is Georgia. And Georgia gets the benefit of the doubt at No. 7…

“I trust Kirby Smart,” Klatt said. “Why? Because they win. That’s just what they do. There’s never a shortage of talent at Georgia, we know that. They addressed the wide receiver issues.”

Gunnar Stockton is likely Georgia’s starting quarterback, somebody Klatt admits he is not too sure of at the moment. But as he mentioned, the wide receiver room appears to be a lot better. Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch were massive gets for UGA out of the NCAA transfer portal.

However, more than anything, Klatt loves the schedule staring Georgia in the face. After playing every big-time game away from home in 2024, a lot of good teams will be traveling to Athens. And recent times tell us the Bulldogs do not lose inside Sanford Stadium.

“Here’s the other thing I love about Georgia,” Klatt said. “It’s their schedule. Most of their big ones are at home… Where they never lose, by the way, between the hedges… They are 47-1 at home over the last nine seasons.”

Georgia will only play three true road games. Having rivalries against Florida and Georgia Tech played at neutral sites helps them out. Auburn, Mississippi State, and Tennessee will get the honor of welcoming Georgia inside the stadiums.

On paper, a lot goes in Smart’s favor this season. Enough success has come in recent years where Klatt feels comfortable enough ranking them high, even up against some SEC foes.