Georgia Bulldogs found ways to lose games in 2016

We are halfway through the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown, and with 50 days remaining, we talk about a team that lost several close games last season: the Georgia Bulldogs.

Kirby Smart‘s first season as the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs was a frustrating one. The Bulldogs seemingly found ways to lose games last season on their way to an 8-5 record.

And that leads us to no. 50 on the countdown.

Georgia Bulldogs lost five games by a combined 50 points in 2016.

Must Read: Alabama destroyed opponents in 2016

Losing five games by a total of 50 points doesn’t sound like anything out of the ordinary, it’s an average of 10 points per loss. But when you consider the fact that Ole Miss gave the Dawgs a 45-14 beatdown last season, it changes that statistic a little bit. Three of Georgia’s five losses were by a total of five points.

More from Southbound and Down

A week after that loss to the Rebels, the Bulldogs had arguably the most heartbreaking loss of any team in the country against Tennessee. Georgia went from taking a 3-point lead with 10 seconds remaining in the game, to losing 34-31 on an improbable Hail Mary as time expired.

Two weeks later, Georgia was upset by Vanderbilt 17-16 at home. The Bulldogs were driving late, but were stopped on a 4th and short play to Isaiah Mckenzie. Georgia outgained Vanderbilt 421-171 in the game, and neither team turned the ball over, but they managed to find the end zone only once..

Then in the season finale, Georgia was stunned by in-state rival Georgia Tech 28-27. The Yellow Jackets scored with 30 seconds remaining to beat Georgia for the second time in three years.

If Georgia is going to be the team the media thinks they will be and win the SEC East, they are going to have to find ways to win these games in 2017.