Josh Pate Names One Reason Georgia Could Miss The SEC Championship Game In 2024

There is a ton to like about the Georgia Bulldogs entering the 2024 season. Georgia has a Heisman Trophy contender at quarterback, a top-tier offensive line, and a defense that is consistently one of the best in college football. UGA is an easy pick to win the College Football Playoff.

But projections are just that. They don't suit-up on Saturdays.

There's a lot of work to be done for the Bulldogs to get back to the postseason and avenge a historic playoff snub last year after a three-point loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game.

It won't be easy. The Bulldogs' 2024 slate is nothing short of a gauntlet, one that CBS Sports analyst Josh Pate says will likely keep UGA out of the conference championship in December.

The Bulldogs are No. 1 in Pate's preseason power rankings 'JP Poll', yet he has Georgia missing the trip to Atlanta.

"I got Georgia playing six of the top 21 teams in the country this year and only one of those games is in Athens," he said on a recent episode of "Late Kick with Josh Pate ." "So how could you have Georgia power-rated No. 1 but think they may fall short of the SEC Championship Game? Because they have a harder schedule than some of these teams. It’s very, very simple."

UGA's road schedule is particularly daunting with trips to Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss – playoff contenders themselves – on the slate. The Bulldogs will also play Clemson and Florida on a neutral field, while hosting Tennessee.

Pate projects Ole Miss and Texas to square off for the conference title.

The Dawgs' season will kickoff against Dabo Swinney's Tigers on Aug. 31 in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.