There’s very little margin for error for the Georgia Bulldogs this season.

In fact, to strengthen chances at a berth in the SEC Championship Game and most importantly, control their own destiny, Mark Richt’s team must finish 6-0 against the Eastern Division.

The cross-divisional schedule — vs. Alabama on Oct. 3 and at Auburn on Nov. 14 — is simply too difficult to expect victories in both games thus creating must-win scenarios the other six weeks of the league season.

Over the weekend, we projected the final conference record necessary to win the East and West this season since each division offers its own varying degree of difficulty based on scheduling. Judging by recent history, splitting the games against cross-divisional Top 10s and beating up on their East rivals should be enough for a berth in Atlanta for the Bulldogs.

Let’s take a closer look at this year’s schedule and see where Georgia, a likely preseason Top 10, has an edge.

Georgia’s 2015 Eastern Division schedule

  • at Vanderbilt — Georgia leads all-time series 54–19–2, but three of last four games in Nashville have been close (including a loss during the 2013 campaign)
  • vs. South Carolina — Steve Spurrier has been Richt’s Achilles Heel in recent years, winning four of the last five in the rivalry. This year, the matchup’s a must-win for Georgia
  • at Tennessee — Arguably the Bulldogs’ toughest East contest this fall, Tennessee’s balanced offense and strength up front defensively provides a worthy test.
  • vs. Missouri — Here’s a game that could decide the division or at least the frontrunner by the midseason point.
  • vs. Florida (Jacksonville) — The Bulldogs get their bye week before the Cocktail Party and should be favored by a touchdown or more.
  • vs. Kentucky — Avoid the upset here and Georgia travels to Auburn the following week with a division title on the line.

The Bulldogs should be favored in all six games against division rivals, but that doesn’t mean Georgia won’t be tested. Midseason matchups against Tennessee and Mizzou over consecutive weeks will likely determine where this team stands at season’s end and both come after the physical brawl against the Crimson Tide.

Avoiding the annual slip-up is essential in getting back to Atlanta as well.

Despite a blowout road win over two-time defending East champ Mizzou and an impressive sweep of Arkansas and Auburn last fall, Georgia’s surprising league losses to South Carolina and underdog Florida ultimately cost the Bulldogs a division title and further developed a disparaging trend under Richt — this team often falters in a game it’s not supposed to lose.

Looking back at the Bulldogs’ last seven regular-season SEC losses since 2011, four have come when Georgia’s been the Vegas favorite. Many thought Georgia was the division’s best team last season and would’ve given Alabama a 12-round bout in the SEC title game, but that team didn’t earn a berth in Atlanta.

Mizzou is unbeaten in November since the start of the 2013 season, the primary reason the Tigers have unexpectedly won consecutive division titles. To end the streak, Georgia must own all head-to-head tiebreakers against divisional rivals and split nationally-ranked games against Alabama and Auburn to do so this season.

And that’s proven easier said than done for the annual preseason East favorites under Richt.