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Why Georgia can make the 2017 CFP

Georgia is coming off an 8-5 season, but has reasons for hope in making the playoff. Justin Ford/USA TODAY Sports

Every team starts the season undefeated. But the cruel reality of college football is that only a handful of those teams have a legitimate chance of winning the College Football Playoff.

Over the next few months, we will review the programs that do and don't fall into that category, as well as some sleeper programs that have a solid shot at CFP contention if the ball bounces the right way.

A case can be made that the Georgia Bulldogs could be included in either the legit contenders or sleeper category. Coach Kirby Smart's club landed at No. 13 in Mark Schlabach's post-signing day Way Too Early Top 25, and there are many reasons to think Georgia is that good and can vault from an 8-5 record in 2016 to CFP contention.