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Kirby Smart compliments Mark Stoops, Kentucky ahead of matchup

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra10/02/23

SamraSource

Georgia HC Kirby Smart
Mark J. Rebilas | USA TODAY Sports

Kirby Smart was complimentary of Mark Stoops and Kentucky as the Georgia Bulldogs ready to for a matchup of unbeaten SEC East squads this weekend.

Kentucky proved they’re the real deal on Saturday, defeating Florida convincingly 33-14. Star running back Ray Davis was unstoppable against the Gators, rushing for 280 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a score on a reception.

Speaking with the media following Georgia’s victory over Auburn last weekend, Smart looked ahead to a physical matchup with Kentucky.

“That’s Mark Stoops’ team. They’re going to be physical. He’s a defensive coach. They run the rock,” explained Smart. “I always said, our kids are the most sore they’ve been after playing Kentucky. It was that way last year. It was a bloodbath up there last year. It’ll be the same way.

“I have so much respect for the way his team plays. The back they got (Ray Davis), I heard that he’s playing really good.”

While Kentucky has looked fantastic, Georgia has also managed to cruise to a 5-0 start, which included wins over SEC foes South Carolina and Auburn. The Bulldogs narrowly escaped the Tigers on the road by a score of 27-20 after at one point trailing early in the third quarter. 

Both the Bulldogs and the Wildcats are also undefeated in the SEC standings, so the leader in the SEC East race will be determined by Saturday’s game. All other teams in the division have incurred a loss outside of Missouri, which has only played one league game to date.

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It’ll be the toughest test of the season for both squads this weekend, and whoever comes out on top will be in fantastic shape moving forward in the SEC East.

Georgia vs. Kentucky: Early point spread released on Bulldogs, Wildcats

In a showdown that will establish a clear leader in the SEC East race, Georgia is set to take on unbeaten Kentucky and the early point spread has been released.

According to FanDuel, Georgia will open the game as a 17-point favorite over Kentucky.

Georgia has won the last 13 meetings in the series, with Kentucky’s last win coming in 2009. The Wildcats have certainly made the matchup an interesting one, though, getting off to a tremendous start to the season at 5-0.

Georgia and Kentucky will meet at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, with a broadcast on ESPN, and there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of the early point spread.