Let’s go between the hedges to preview Georgia vs. Kentucky. The Bulldogs travel to Lexington to take on the Wildcats on the SEC on ABC on Saturday night. Georgia is the #1 ranked team in the nation and is fresh off a 48-3 win over Tennessee Tech last weekend. Kentucky is 1-1 on the season and stumbled out of the gate last weekend against South Carolina.
The Wildcats entered the game as 10-point favorites but were blown out at home, 31-6. Despite previously stabilizing the program, Mark Stoops is now witnessing cracks in the foundation. Kentucky has lost 8 of its last 10 SEC home games. At the end of last season, Stoops was strongly linked to the Texas A&M job but ultimately decided to stay in Lexington. This backdrop sets the stage as we dive into the five key questions leading up to Georgia vs. Kentucky.
Five Questions for Georgia vs. Kentucky
What Are the Game Details?
Opponent: Kentucky
History: Georgia leads the series 63-12-2
Last meeting: Georgia has won the last 14 straight and last year’s game 51-13.
Date and Time: Saturday, September 15 | 7:30 p.m. EST
Location: Kroger Field
Television: ABC
Spread: Georgia -24
Over/Under: 45.5
What Should You Know About Kentucky?
Georgia will face two familiar opponents on Saturday, including quarterback Brock Vandagriff. Vandagriff, who competed with Carson Beck for Georgia’s quarterback spot last year and served as the backup all season, transferred to Kentucky after the season. His performance this season has been shaky. One highlight was Marty Smith’s comment on SEC Nation: “The mustache and the flow, you’ve got a 1989 Alan Jackson vibe.” However, once the game against South Carolina began, Vandagriff struggled, completing just 3 of 10 passes for 30 yards and throwing a pick-six in the fourth quarter.
Georgia’s offense will face former Bulldog Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Dumas-Johnson’s 2023 season was cut short last year after an injury against Tennessee. With the emergence of CJ Allen, he decided to transfer to Kentucky for his final season of eligibility. He has six tackles on the season.
Despite the score last week, Kirby Smart stressed Kentucky’s strengths on defense this week.“They’re physical,” said Smart. “So you play defense, you have physical lines of scrimmage, you have huge people on the offensive and defensive line, and you’re hard to move the ball on.”
What Should You Watch for on Georgia’s Offense?
Beck continues to impress in his second year as Georgia’s starting quarterback, showing no signs of complacency. Last weekend, Beck had a standout performance, completing 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and throwing five touchdowns. His precision helped Georgia’s offense excel, with six different receivers averaging ten or more yards per catch. Among the highlights were explosive plays by Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett, who had catches of 50 and 37 yards, respectively. As Georgia heads deeper into SEC play, the results from Texas and Ole Miss in the first two weeks highlight the need for the Bulldogs’ offense to stay sharp and consistently perform at a high level.
What Should You Watch for on Georgia’s Defense?
Georgia’s defense has made a statement in its first two weeks of the season. They have yet to let up a touchdown, surrendering a field goal in both games. While that may not mean much against Tennessee Tech, Clemson did show life last week in their win against Appalachian State. The Tigers came out guns blazing with 35 first-quarter points. Clemson’s quarterback also threw for almost 380 yards and five touchdowns on the day. Those stats make Georgia’s Week 1 defensive performance all the more impressive.
One group that impressed Smart was his defensive line. Not only are they playing well, but they are also allowing Georgia to have some depth, which is key to long-term success in the SEC. “I’m excited about that group. They’re working really hard.” Smart said. “The amount of work the young guys have gotten is probably more than we’ve ever gotten a young group. It’s been great because we’ve been able to care for our older guys, get them engaged, get them going, and improve the younger guys. So we’ve got a lot of depth in that room.” With Vandagriff’s struggles last week, Georgia’s defense should be in line for another nice day on Saturday.
Who Will Win Georgia vs. Kentucky?
The storm is coming, and it’s just not the Bulldogs coming into Lexington. The weather report calls for some rain. When asked this week, Smart wasn’t too concerned about the weather. “We looked at it last night and started tracking it every day. We’ve been able to practice some this year, a couple of times, in the rain, and sometimes the weather up there –¬ typically it’s later in the year we play them, and typically it’s much colder, which we’ve had some tough games up there in the cold and the wind.” Georgia manages the wind and rain in the win.
Georgia 45
Kentucky 3
