Georgia returns to action after a much-needed bye week on the back of the deflating 41-24 loss to Alabama. After a strong showing in the first half against the Tide that gave the Dawgs a 24-20 halftime lead, the wheels fell off on both sides of the ball in the second half as Alabama raced away to a comfortable victory. Kentucky will provide a completely different type of test with a run-first offense, which should play right into the hands of Georgia’s stout front seven, but this is the SEC, and the Dawgs better come ready to play in order to avoid an upset. Below are a few key matchups and themes to watch in Georgia vs. Kentucky in Lexington.
Georgia’s Front Seven vs. Kentucky’s Ground Attack
This is a matchup of strength on strength in the truest sense, as Georgia’s run defense is giving up a paltry 65 yards per game while Kentucky leans heavily on a rushing attack that is second in the SEC at 184 yards per game. The Wildcats are probably the most one-dimensional offense that Georgia will face this season, as both Terry Wilson and Joey Gatewood are extremely limited throwing the ball to the tune of an SEC-worst 123 yards per game. Both are major threats to run, however, so the front seven must show immense gap discipline and containment in order to corral the rushing attack. This matchup should still favor Georgia, but Kentucky has a chance to keep things interesting if their offensive line gains a bit of momentum.
Georgia’s Passing Attack Getting Back on Track
Stetson Bennett IV will get another start behind center, but his leash is officially as short as it can possibly be. He was downright bad in the second half against Alabama, and his poor play was a major factor in the Dawgs unraveling in Tuscaloosa. Alabama made it a point to lock down the middle of the field where Bennett feels most comfortable throwing and forced him to look outside to disastrous results. Against Kentucky, look for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to incorporate more variety in the passing game in order to get Bennett back on track. Georgia should be comfortable on both sides of the ball against a team like Kentucky, so this could be a great opportunity to see if Bennett truly has what it takes to lead this team all the way to the playoff. If his poor play carries over, do not be surprised to see the debut of JT Daniels.
George Pickens
This one ties into the previous section, but where on earth has George Pickens been the past few weeks? Georgia needs to get its superstar wide receiver involved in the offense again if it wants to be successful through the air. On paper, Georgia has the perfect inside-out duo of receivers in Kearis Jackson and Pickens. But while Jackson has thrived catching balls over the middle, Pickens has been a ghost on the outside. That is a product of Stetson Bennett not being comfortable hitting the outside throws, and that simply has to change. Whether that means lining Pickens up in the slot more or simplifying his routes, the man needs touches. He is too good of a player to only be seeing a few targets a game.
Georgia vs. Kentucky Prediction
This game is a perfect opportunity for Georgia to work out its offensive issues before the massive game against Florida the following week. I expect to see a better balance on offense with the usual success in the running game opening up some more passing lanes for Bennett (or Daniels) to exploit. Kentucky’s one-dimensional offense is so incredibly limited that I just do not see them being able to score consistently on the Dawgs, and this one could get a bit ugly by the second half provided Stetson Bennett takes care of the ball. Hopefully, we see everything come together, and the Dawgs regain some momentum before the SEC East decider in Jacksonville.
Georgia 35 – Kentucky 10
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