Top-ranked Georgia is currently strong on defense, making it tough for Kentucky to find ways to score.
These contrasting situations don’t seem likely to shift for their game on Saturday night, but Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart still sees Kentucky as a potential challenge.
“They are just as dangerous whether they won or lost that game, in my opinion,” Smart said about the Wildcats’ 31-6 loss to South Carolina. “I know the football players they got. I know how physical they are. I know how they’re coached. And we’ve got to get ready for a really tough opponent.”
The Bulldogs (2-0) have lived up to their preseason expectations as Southeastern Conference favorites. They have outscored Clemson and Tennessee Tech by a total of 82-6, allowing only a field goal in each game.
Last week, they beat Tennessee Tech 48-3, with quarterback Carson Beck throwing five touchdowns to five different players in just over one half. Georgia gained 498 yards while Tech only managed 134 in a game that ended 10 minutes early in the fourth quarter.
Georgia is ranked fifth in total defense (161 yards per game) and 33rd in offense (472.5). They are looking for their 15th consecutive win in this series and are 24 1/2-point favorites according to BetMGM College Sports Odds.
Kentucky (1-1, 0-1 SEC) wants to bounce back from one of their weakest performances under coach Mark Stoops against South Carolina. The Wildcats only gained 183 yards and scored two field goals in that game, failing to score a touchdown for the first time since their 21-0 loss to Iowa in the 2022 Music City Bowl.
Stoops expressed disappointment with his team’s performance against the Gamecocks but took responsibility for the loss. He hopes the players will recognize their mistakes and rise to the challenge against Georgia.
“Bottom line, we’ve got to get better, and we have a great opportunity to do that this week against the very best teams in the country,” Stoops said. “So, we’ll be up for that challenge. I do expect our team to respond.”
