FACTS & STATS: Site: Sanford Stadium (86,117) -- Athens, Georgia. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Kentucky 3-3, Georgia 4-1. Away Record: Kentucky 2-1, Georgia 2-2. Neutral Record: Kentucky 1-0, Georgia 0-1. Conference Record: Kentucky 2-4, Georgia 4-3. Series Record: Georgia leads, 49-11-2.
GAME NOTES: SEC foes will collide in Athens this weekend, as the Georgia Bulldogs play host to the Kentucky Wildcats.
Kentucky has won four of its last five games to move to 6-4 overall. A closer look reveals that three of those victories have come over Vanderbilt, Eastern Kentucky and UL-Monroe, three rather weak opponents, so fans of the Wildcats should temper their excitement. Last weekend's 24-13 triumph over Vandy marked just the second SEC win for Kentucky in six tries.
Like Kentucky, Georgia is 6-4 overall, but the Bulldogs have a more impressive 4-3 conference record. They have won their last two outings, including a 31-24 decision over Auburn last weekend. Of the five home games that Georgia has played this season, four have resulted in victory.
Georgia owns a 49-11-2 series advantage over Kentucky, which includes victories in 11 of the last 12 meetings.
Kentucky is scoring 26.8 ppg this season to go along with 351.2 total ypg, solid numbers for a team with some dynamic offensive weapons. Start with Randall Cobb, a versatile performer who now lines up at receiver and tailback after beginning his collegiate career as a quarterback. Cobb has 32 catches for 384 yards and four touchdowns, and he has also rushed for 396 yards and seven scores. Derrick Locke is the team's top ground gainer, as he has rushed for 741 yards and five touchdowns. Mike Hartline, the team's starting quarterback, was lost for the season last week with a knee injury, and Morgan Newton filled in with limited success. Fortunately, Locke rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt, while Cobb posted 99 rushing yards and two scores. Expect a heavy dose of both runners this weekend, as it is likely that coach Rich Brooks will ask Newton to air it out very often.
Kentucky is a fairly solid defensive team that is allowing 21.7 ppg and 343.2 total ypg. The Wildcats have permitted 25 touchdowns to opposing offenses, 13 of which have been of the rushing variety. The fact that they are surrendering 4.6 yards per rushing attempt and 12.7 yards per pass completion suggests that there is some room for improvement in both areas. Still, it should be pointed out that Kentucky has held opposing quarterbacks below a 50 percent completion rating with more interceptions than touchdowns. Micah Johnson has registered 74 total tackles for the Wildcats, and DeQuin Evans has 10.5 TFLs to his credit. The Kentucky defense was dominant against a bad Vanderbilt offense last weekend, limiting the Commodores to 11 first downs and 209 total yards. The Wildcats permitted a mere 82 rushing yards on 34 attempts and allowed only 11-of-24 passes they faced to be completed.
Georgia is scoring 27.5 ppg this season, and the team is generating 344.0 total ypg. The Bulldogs have scored 30 offensive touchdowns, including 18 through the air. Joe Cox is responsible for all 18 of those scoring strikes, and he has completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 2,059 yards with 12 interceptions. A.J. Green is one of the best receivers in the nation, and he has made 47 catches this season for 751 yards and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, he injured his shoulder last time out and isn't expected to play this weekend. No tailback has emerged for Georgia as a workhorse, so the team employs the backfield-by-committee approach. The Bulldogs got 98 yards rushing and one touchdown from Washaun Ealey last week against Auburn, and Cox completed 9-of-17 passes for 173 yards and one score with no interceptions.
Opponents are scoring 25.9 ppg while gaining 334.1 total ypg against a Georgia defense that can best be described as mediocre. On a positive note, the Bulldogs are tough against the run, yielding just 3.4 yards per carry. Unfortunately, they have allowed 19 passing scores with only seven interceptions and are surrendering 12.3 yards per pass completion. The fact that Georgia has only generated eight takeaways in 10 games is troubling to say the least. Rennie Curran continues to lead the Bulldogs with 94 total tackles, 41 more than his closest teammate. As for Justin Houston, he has 11.5 TFLs to his credit. The Georgia defense deserves a great deal of credit for limiting Auburn to 115 rushing yards on 38 carries last weekend. The Bulldogs also intercepted a pair of passes in that contest, key to the victory.
Georgia gets the nod in this clash, as it figures to knock off Kentucky in front of the home crowd. The Wildcats will likely be one-dimensional offensively, and it is tough to win games with that approach in the SEC.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Georgia 23, Kentucky 17
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