Georgia in 1969 (left) and 1934 (right)--my opinion of the very "best losing," and the top "worst winning," respectively, Bulldogs team of all time.
Upon Georgia ending its season with a 10-3 record, it was said by a number of Bulldogs enthusiasts something on the order that this year’s team was “the worst 10-win team in the country,” or “the worst 10-win team in Georgia history,” and the like. It kind of reminded me of what was said following the Bulldogs’ season in 1958. Georgia finished that year having the upper-hand over its opposition in every major statistical category, including outscoring its opponents 196 to 114, and was regarded as probably the fourth-most talented squad in the 12-member SEC. Regardless, the Bulldogs finished with a losing 4-6 record, ranked 10th in the conference standings and, for their efforts, was recognized in the media as perhaps “the best losing team ever.”
Were the 2015 Bulldogs just the opposite—“the worst winning team ever”?
Bill Parcells once famously said, “you are what your record says you are.” But, let’s face it, not all teams with the same record are the same when it comes to on-field performance. For example, if this past season’s Bulldogs were to play the 10-3, SEC champion Georgia squad from 2005, I think we all know which group of Bulldogs would likely win, and probably rather easily, despite their identical records.
With all this in mind, and although you may consider this one of the more meaningless posts you’ll read in a while, I came up with my top five “best losing” Georgia teams, or the top Bulldog squads in history which had a .500 record or less, and “worst winning,” or the worst teams all time at the school that achieved a winning percentage of .700 or higher.
For each category, the teams are listed chronologically (I do reveal which one is the best of the best, and worst of the worst) along with each season’s record, followed by a reason or two of several for my rationale:
“BEST LOSING” (.500 and lower)
1925 (4-5): Four wins—all over good opponents—come by an average of four touchdowns; five losses are all to excellent teams, three of which by five points or less.
1958 (4-6): Besides aforementioned, all six losses are to winning teams, and by an average of just over a touchdown.
1969 (5-5-1): My opinion of the very best losing Georgia team of all time. By the end of October, Bulldogs are 5-1, ranked 11th in nation, and have an average scoring margin of plus-24 points per game. Team ends its regular season without a win over three top-13 teams—Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn—and Georgia Tech by a scoring margin of just minus-8.3 points per game.
1970 (5-5): Bad luck hits Georgia for second consecutive season as the Dogs’ five wins, including over 8th-ranked Auburn, are by a 24-point average margin; five losses are by an average of less than a touchdown.
1974 (6-6): Perhaps the most inconsistent Georgia team in history; you literally didn’t know what Bulldogs’ squad you’d see from week to week. And, the one season Erk Russell’s defense seemingly takes the year off, Georgia’s offense is one of the most productive in school history.
“WORST WINNING” (.700 and higher)
1934 (7-3): My opinion of the very worst winning Georgia team of all time. Seven victories result over teams which finished its season with an average record of 3-6; but, versus three real “tests”—reputable UNC, Tulane, and Alabama teams, and all in a row—Georgia loses by an average of two touchdowns.
1944 (7-3): I personally love the two war-torn Georgia teams of ’43 and ’44 but, have to admit, both got off with an easy schedule. Six of the latter’s seven wins were to teams with a .500 record or worst; two of three losses are to a two-win LSU squad, and a 44-0 blanking vs. Georgia Tech.
1998 (9-3): Against what ranked as one of the easier schedules in the SEC, Georgia averages just 24 points per game while allowing 19. Five of nine wins result against teams with a 4-7 record or worse; against three best teams on schedule (10-2 record or better)—Tennessee, Florida, Georgia Tech—all are setbacks and by an average of 17 points per loss.
2011 (10-4): Ten wins in a row but none against a team ranked in the top 20 at the time; against tough opposition—all ranked No. 12 or higher—the Bulldogs lose all four.
2015 (10-3): Face only two ranked teams all season, and lose them both by an average of 26 points per defeat. Excluding Georgia Southern, who is not too far removed from FCS status and takes Georgia to overtime, and FCS Southern, the Bulldogs’ other eight wins are over teams which averaged a record of approximately 4½ wins and 8 losses for the season.
