GEORGIA
Georgia is used to playing big games that determine division, conference or national titles. It has been that way forever, so Saturday’s big showdown with No. 11 Kentucky in Lexington is just another Saturday, more or less.
This is all new for Kentucky, which has only won one SEC championship outright (1950) since joining the league in its inaugural season of 1933, and hasn’t even shared a title since 1976. But that’s where we stand. No. 6 Georgia and the Wildcats are both 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the SEC. The winner of Saturday’s game (3:30 p.m. ET; TV: CBS) wins the SEC East and punches its ticket to the conference title game in Atlanta on Dec. 1.
Georgia is a 9.5-point favorite, even on the road, so there are plenty of good reasons for Bulldogs fans to feel cocky and confident about this one. But not so fast. There are legitimate reasons for concern about this game, because everything just seems to be falling into place for Kentucky.
So, yes, watch out.
Here are 5 things Bulldogs fans should be worried about regarding Kentucky:
1. Kentucky’s defense is legitimately good
In almost every important category, Kentucky’s defense outranks Georgia. The Wildcats are No. 1 in the country in scoring defense (13.0 points per game), tied with Clemson. Georgia is No. 12 at 16.4. Kentucky is 10th in total defense, while Georgia is 14th. Kentucky is 16th against the run, which Georgia ranks a pedestrian No. 44.
And just when you’re ready to argue schedule, Kentucky’s numbers are even better by comparison to Georgia with their four common opponents thus far, SEC East rivals Florida, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Missouri. Kentucky has the edge in scoring (13.7 to 19.0) and total defense (303.5 to 341.2). Georgia’s offense is definitely going to be in for a 60-minute battle.
2. Benny Snell Jr. is a stud running back
Georgia hasn’t exactly shut down the run all year, so look for Kentucky senior Benny Snell Jr. to make some noise Saturday. He has 935 yards rushing this season, and the junior from Westerville, Ohio, is on the verge of his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season at UK. He’s that good, and that steady.
What really has helped, too, is that Kentucky’s experienced offensive line has made room for him to run. Snell already has had three games of 165 yards or more (Florida, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt), and those are three good defenses, especially against the run. Georgia will have to keep him under control, which means limiting him to less than 100 yards. That could be tough.
3. Kentucky can’t throw — until it really matters
Transfer quarterback Terry Wilson hasn’t been very good and consistency has been a real issue. He’s probably more dangerous with his legs than his arm. He has only five touchdown passes all season and six interceptions.
But last week against Missouri, with title hopes still on the line and Kentucky trailing in the closing minutes, Wilson completed six straight passes on the eight-play, 81-yard game-winning drive. He hit C.J. Conrad for a 2-yard score with time expired on an untimed down after a controversial pass interference penalty as the Wildcats pulled out a 15-14 win. No one expected six straight completions from Wilson, but that had to give him a lot of confidence. Georgia can’t let him go off on Saturday.
4. The magic dust factor cannot be ignored
Some years, there’s that team that gets all the breaks and contends for division titles when it’s least expected. That’s Kentucky this year, without a doubt. Magic dust is a wonderful thing. The win last week over Missouri was a perfect example. If that pass interference call hadn’t been made — and it really could have gone either way — then Kentucky would have lost.
They also got a break playing Florida so early in the season, when Gators coach Dan Mullen hadn’t put an imprint on his team. The Wildcats finally broke their three-decade losing streak to the Gators. Even in their one loss, in overtime on the road at Texas A&M, a tipped pass for an interception kept the Wildcats in the game. So they’ve been getting all the bounces and that helps. Will that trend continue?
5. And then there’s that once-in-a-lifetime moment
It is November in Kentucky, so basketball season is right around the corner. Kentucky is a basketball school with eight national titles, and football has always just been the warmup act. But now here’s this game for all the marbles, so you know this sold-out crowd is going to be juiced and loud.
Some are saying this is the biggest football game ever in Lexington, and considering the Wildcats’ history in football, that’s not really wrong. It’s going to be a special day for sure.
Agree with points 1 and 2. Not much after that. I think 17 points is enough to win it for UGA.
I’m surprised we aren’t ranked just a few points behind Alabama.
Our crushing offense is overall ranked 103 in the nation.
Is it too late for the Dawgs to ‘mail in’ a forfeit so they will have enough healthy players to finish the season?
I’m still looking for a stud for my wife here in louisville. hit me up at paris10 on SDS
paris10 the troll is just upset because his team, the tennessee volunteers suck this year. he comes on every week to posing as a UK fan when everyone has figured out his pathetic game. You do understand we have the number 1 scoring defense in the nation, paris? You do know that we control TOS paris? You do know that we have several NFL caliber players paris? Of course not. you are an internet warrior…brave behind that computer screen but a coward in person.
Eh, it’s still Kentucky. The East isn’t great and like you said, Kentucky has relied on luck and most teams that do that end up running out of it in the end. Georgia has handled the East pretty easily and Kentucky has gotten by the skin of their teeth. Look to see things for Kentucky go about as bad as they did for Florida last week with fumbles, INTs and overall dumb mistakes on special teams. I initially thought this would be close but the more I think about it the more Georgia should win pretty handily.
First off, this isn’t like the old Kentucky team. This team is legit and your team will find out how legit it is in a few days. And when you beat you, and we will beat you, then I don’t want to hear how it was luck, or how you didn’t bring your best game or how your coached screwed up or how the refs cheated. Kentucky has been the underdog in almost every game this season. They beat Florida in the swamp by double digits, they beat a solid Mississippi State team rather easily, they manhandled an overconfident South Carolina team, they lost an away game in overtime to a very good defensive team in A&M, and they did what they needed to do to win against Vanderbilt and Missouri. Kentucky will expose your teams weaknesses this Saturday and they will prevail because quite frankly, they are the better team. In the past they had to rely on gimmick plays to win. Not this year…this year we punch you in the mouth and we don’t stop until the game is over. You’re coming into our house to play and this team is playing for history. Let me repeat this again…you will not win this game.
“beat Florida by double digits” – check
“Manhandled an overconfident SC team” – check
“Did what they needed to do against Vanderbilt and Missouri” – double check
I admire your confidence, but emotion ain’t everything. Should be a great game.
uga1785,
Georgia picked to beat all those teams – check
UK picked to lose to all those teams – check (even with winning streaks against SC and Missouri – check)
UK gets no respect – check
UK has the best defense in the country – check
Winning means outscoring your opponents by even 1 point – check
@UK1970 – no need to get sensative. A win is a win (Georgia knows all about that). Kentucky is getting its fair share of respect, ease up with the inferiority complex. When was the last time UK had a ranking in the top 10 – like 10 years ago?? Gonna be interesting for sure!
I’m not sure beating SC, who actually held KY scoreless in the 2nd half, is reason for optimism. Nor is a near miracle finish to beat Mizzou. There will be no “magic dust” finish Saturday. Dawgs by double digits.
Hahahahahahahahaha. Manhandling SC huh? Was that the game where you went into their stadium and put up 41 points on them? Oh no wait… the only time you’ve put up more than 28 was against defensive stalwarts Central MI and Murray State.
It’s not about running up the score. Just 2 more point than the opposition. We’re waiting for you.
Ohhh so you guys purposely went without an offensive touchdown in the first 60 minutes against the vaunted Missouri defense so you wouldn’t hurt their feelings? That was kind of you guys.
I’m commenting so that in the event you’re wrong, I can come to this very spot and remind you.
“You’re coming into our house to play and this team is playing for history. Let me repeat this again…you will not win this game.”
You are a cocky, delusional idiot. I want you to reflect on all that garbage you spewed while you realize that it will be another 40+ years before UK has a winning SEC record. Kentucky sucks.
He won’t come back….UK and their senior laden “best defense in the nation” just got humbled, BIG TIME, by the youngest team in the SEC!
Hahahaha just here to call out this cocky idiot above!!! Stick to basketball and leave football for the big boys because your “dominant defense” got MANHANDLED by UGA. I mean MANHANDLED
“when you beat you, and we will beat you” – Oh, UK fans, y’all are so new at this. Apparently, your team was as certain as your fan base that this was going to happen. Benny Snell done ran his mouth right into irrelevance! Reminds me of Vanderbilt last season: “Hey Bama, you’re next!” Bahahaha! Such a cute little fan base Big Blue has!
“Let me repeat this again…you will not win this game.” – Repeat it again, I don’t think we got it. We even gave y’all two unforced turnovers.
It’s a bit simplistic to say UK has just relied on luck… there was nothing lucky about the UF, MSU, and SC games.
But hey, sometimes teams tend to have a lucky streak. I’m blanking on who it was, but there was a team a few years ago that won like two games in a row with a tipped up Hail Mary and then a kick-6 return. I can’t imagine how much fun it was to cheer for that team, but it must have sucked to be a fan of the others. (Only joking, but I feel your tipped Hail Mary pain)
Nah…..we’ve beaten all barn so many times we got over that Hail Mary pretty fast…remember, we were barely ranked for that game, so it wasn’t a shock to lose. But U.K. on the other hand, just got MAULED by the DAWGS!!
Keep thinking that way. If you thought is was tough sledding against LSU wait until Saturday. This isn’t UGA 2017 and it’s definitely not a usual UK squad. See you in Lexington. How embarrassing will it be to lose to lowly Kentucky LOL. Come get some.
To be honest, not even Florida fans were this cocky prior to playing Georgia. It is eye opening to see UK fans out in droves talking trash.
None of the fans so far this year were this cocky. Will be hilarious when we beat them if Kentucky’s team is as cocky as their fans. Seeing tears both on the field and in the stands will make for some good meme material. I’ll bet you even more of them dissapear after their loss from this board than florida fan’s did from theirs. Which btw for those not counting only 1 florida fan has commented since then.
And what if UK wins? Then will you be upset because your hopes of playing in a championship game vanished. Like almost every game this season, the professionals never picked UK to win. Are you going to blame the refs, the coach, having an off day, etc? Can’t wait to see your excuse.
Nah ill blame the large hadron collider for sending us into another dimension. As that is all that could cause you to win this game. Not even the refs our coach nor an off day combined could cause us to lose this one.
Yeah, I know the type. You’re the guy who sticks is head in the ground like an ostrich after the game. bahahaha. The last time you played us in Lexington you won by 3 points and we definitely didn’t have a good team then.
O praytell, most magnificent one who sees the future and knows the past, How UGA did that year you are referring too? Did you forget or did you purposely exclude that because it destroys your paper thin argument.
You need to simmer down. This is Kentucky’s first winning SEC record since the 1970s. Just enjoy it without being a cocky idiot.
Looks like no excuses are needed, UK got dominated
“Come get some” I hope you feel as stupid as your comment sounds
Hey chief, we got some, and it was too EASY!!!! I mean EASY. UGA didn’t even play that well and still MANHANDLED your “dominant defense” or the so called “number one defense in the nation”!!! Hahahahaha, complete a$$whipping
Yep, we came to Lexington, and kindly took over Piggly Wiggly field in the 3rd quarter when all you “fans” left. By the way, I went to get some humble pie at your grocery store stadium concession stand, but they said that they were all sold out! Guess all you UK fans ate it all on your way out!
And the more I think about your comment, I’m pretty sure you’re an idiot.
I like UGA’s chances in this game.
As long as we stick our “bread and butter” recipe by running the ball and stopping…..er…..slowing down Benny, Kentucky like all others before them will be gassed by the fourth quarter.
I think the one BIG difference is UGA’s passing game. We have some real talent at wide out and I think Jake Fromm just found a replacement for Javon Wims. His name is Jeremiah Holloman.
JJ
There is only one reason the dawgs should have any concern, KY’s D is legit. Thier O is very beatable if you shadow benny. MIZZOU’s mediocre D held him to natta. Once you shut him down he will throw his helmet & scream at his coaching staff. I watched it first hand, very funny stuff. Obvious he had never faced adversity.
I believe he stated after the game he was upset because people were twisting his ankles after tackles. I saw much funnier things at that game.
The funniest thing was that joke of a PI that took away a W from Mizzou and handed it to ya’ll.
Or the offensive lineman for Missouri that rocked back in his stance in the first half that the ref called on UK defensive lineman and gave Missouri a touchdown. bahahaha
Upset because your vols suck.
UK players crying due to Mizzou players being mean? Now that is funny.
We have the talent to win going away. Its the intangibles that bother me, the playing far over their head in this game, the adrenaline rush UK will have. Its very important for UGA to score first several times to quiet the crowd and deflate the team. It’s going to be a good one for sure!
UGA by 14 plus in this one.
2nd&TwentySix, you’re a dumbass.
I hope UK wins, I don’t expect them to.
He looks pretty smart now, doesn’t he?!?!? Should have won by about 21, but gave away a few points thanks to mishandled snaps (UK) caused NEITHER fumble lmao
It’s a big game. Kentucky is a good team with a great running back and defensive playmaker. They’ve got experience and will be at home. We get it. As for the “scared” part of the headline…what is that? A Halloween thing? Wasn’t Michael Myers the visitor back in ’78?
Georgia lost a ton of great players last year like Chubb, Michel, Smith and Wynn.
They are young and have one decent win over Florida.
Because of the momentum from last year using players recruited by Mark Richt the fans are cocky after making it to the NC game last year.
This will be a battle decided on the last play of the game
Kentucky wins 17-10
Excluding an untimed play, UK scored a total of 22 points on Vandy and Missouri combined. UK has yet to play a team as talented, deep, and well coached as UGA — UK caught both Florida and MSU early and with each program in the first season of new coaching staffs. It will be a good game, no doubt, but the confidence of UK fans is comical.
And yet they still have identical records…imagine that. Georgia is only 3 spots ahead of UK in the only poll that matters. LSU throttled your team and your fans downplay that a**beating you took. That’s what is comical.
Probably because we took a worse one last year only yo hand the beating back when it mattered and still made it to overtime in the natty. Your memory is comical. And not in the funny way… like the amy Schumer brand of comical.
English? Why are we talking about last year?
You just referred to 2 years ago in your argument above… do you ever self reflect on what a hypocrite you are or did you already break all your mirrors trying to hang one from your bedroom ceiling so you can fully see your sister. Also if one typo i can’t correct ruins your reading comprehension i trully feel bad for you. Your undettered faith in your team with little logic or understanding to back it up makes me wonder if you are a troll but sadly i know deep down you are just a typical kentuckian. You are a couple herbs and spices short of 11 colonel meanders.
Yeah, LSU did throttle UGA, no denying it. But UGA pounded South Carolina, Vandy, Missouri, and Florida, all teams that Kentucky struggled with. I understand that you finally have a season where UK isn’t at the very bottom of the division, but show a little decorum.
@Ugagrad – unlike last year, Saturday’s game is make-or-break. UGA was able to absorb the Auburn loss and still make it to Atlanta … and UGA played exceptionally well down when it mattered. But a loss this Saturday makes a return to Atlanta sketchy at best.
Big question is will Kirby/Chaney stick to the run or will they get anxious if the UK defense limits Holyfield/Swift in the first half?
I think the Dawgs prevail in Lexington, but Fromm can’t afford another “Baton Rouge” performance.
What’s REALLY comical is this cocky UK fan……come eat some crow homeboy because UGA just DOMINATED that awesome defense with the YOUNGEST roster in the SEC vs UK’s senior laden team!! THAT MUST SUCK for you and your silly fans!
You make a great point. Many players from last years team and this year were recruited by Mark Richt. When being coached by Mark Richt and his staff, UGA could very well lose this Saturday. News Flash, he ain’t there anymore and these players are getting coached up. Hope you enjoyed your season, back to your normal slot in the pecking order this weekend. Dawgs by double digits.
“Cocky for making it to the national championship game”???? What are they supposed to be? You cats fans are cocky after going 7-1 hahahahahaha DAWGS just DOMINATED your little kittens
The one thing I haven’t seen discussed much is whether Kentucky has the depth in the trenches to keep up with Georgia for a full 4 quarters. I don’t think Kentucky’s resume to date fully answers that question.
I think UK does have the depth and that along with an experienced team that plays great together has really helped. Its why they don’t worry much about the 1st half and come out and shut teams down in the 2nd. Most of Allen’s sacks have come in the 2nd half.
UGA is the favorite for a reason, with more 4/5 star players on the current team than UK has probably had in its history. They have quality coaching, a history of high level football success, and were a play away from being national champions. They should and probably will win. What I want to see is the CATS play a clean game, not give the Dogs any gifts (although if the Dogs want to throw some love our way we wont complain) because they already have enough advantages. I know our defense is every bit up to the challenge, hopefully the coaches will open the offense up and be more aggressive and attacking with the passing game. We have little hope of winning if we can’t score in the twenties. This CATS team has the talent and experience and the belief in themselves to take this game. We will know Saturday by 6:30 if UGA was good enough to prevent them from doing so. If so, good luck to the Dogs against Bama. Go CATS!!!
So, three reasons.
I’m a big Cats fan but I don’t think the UGA team or fans are ‘scared’ about UK or anyone for that matter.
Anyone in their right mind should be scared of Tua. Aside from that, you’re correct.
I suspect this game will be about running the ball and stopping the run. Georgia has had great YPC success running against the two best Ds we’ve played this year. The problem was that in the LSU game early turnovers and an itchy trigger finger caused Chaney to abandon the run, even though it was working at 7 yards a pop with Holyfield and Swift. Sticking with it in the Florida game showed (again) how effective it can be when committed to for 4 quarters.
Keeping Snell in check obviously is Job One for the UGA D. Benny will get his yards, no doubt, but I don’t see UGA committing 4 turnovers in this game. The home crowd will also be about 40% smaller than the Dawgs had to contend with in Baton Rouge, so the noise factor won’t be nearly as intense. When UGA runs the ball well there is no more effective play action QB in the nation than Fromm. I expect UGA to ring up 30-ish points and I think Kentucky will struggle to reach 20, based on how their offense has played the last few weeks.
The thing that worries me about this game: UK’s a team chock full of Senior’s, and that’s not counting Junior RB Snell.
Ga is likely the youngest roster in the SEC.
A few Freshman mistakes could be the difference.
Let not your heart be troubled. Preparedness and execution applied with physicality will be the difference. These young guys must keep their composure, though. Stick to the fundamentals on tackling and striking. Force them to be one-dimensional. We must keep #41 at bay.
Thank you evangelist kirby