DawgsHQ Staff Predictions: Week 6 (Georgia-Kentucky & more)

We’ve got Dawgs and Cats in Athens this week in a top-20 showdown between Georgia and Kentucky. Both teams enter Saturday’s contest at 5-0 on the season and are set to do battle for positioning in the SEC East. Here’s how the DawgsHQ crew expects it to play out – plus our picks on some of the top games from around the country.

*** Georgia did not cover the spread last week against Auburn. Reuse was the only one to get that correct, so point for him. This week, UGA is once again a 14.5-point favorite, this time over Kentucky. ***

Wes Blankenship (16-11)

We’ve heard all season about Georgia’s slow starts. We learned last week that the defense is susceptible to big runs. I’m here to tell you this: Georgia is not playing around against the Wildcats. The Dawgs clean up the turnovers and cork up that Kentucky bourbon on defense in a raucous night Between the Hedges. (Georgia 34, Kentucky 17)

Jeremy Johnson (12-15)

This ball game will be a tight one. Georgia hits a few deep balls late and creates a few timely turnovers to runaway in an intense SEC East battle. (Georgia 31, Kentucky 17)

Rusty Mansell

I think UGA scores some points. It’d be easy to go with Brock Bowers every week, but I’m keeping an eye on Daijun Edwards. Two TDs for him. (Georgia 31, Kentucky 17)

Jake Reuse (15-12)

A night game atmosphere in Athens isn’t going to make for an easy setting for the Kentucky Wildcats, despite all the momentum Mark Stoops’ squad is bringing after a dominant win over the Florida Gators. The rushing attack is quite solid, and Ray Davis is a legit weapon. Still, Devin Leary isn’t likely to be replicating Thorne and Ashford last weekend, and that’s what’s really given the Dawgs fits. While the Wildcats lack that, they’re good enough to score some point, and as I said last week, Georgia has to prove to me it can cover a spread once this season before I’ll believe it. For added context, the Bulldogs haven’t done so versus Kentucky since 2018. (Georgia 24, Kentucky 13)

Jake Rowe (13-14)

Kentucky has a physical, aggressive, and sound football team. As the ranking indicates, this is the best team Georgia has faced this year and it’s not particularly close. The Wildcats won’t beat themselves. We’re all waiting for the Bulldogs to play good football from start to finish and I think we see something close to that this week.

If Georgia takes care of the football, it will control this football game. The run defense is coming off a game where he got embarrassed, at least to an extent. Ray Davis will be a focal point and I think the Bulldogs will do a good job of keeping him check. UGA wins the third down matchup, plays better red zone defense, and Carson Beck continues to grow. The crowd will also be a factor. While the Wildcats expend a lot of focus and energy on limiting Bock Bowers, Beck gets Ladd McConkey, Rara Thomas, Dominic Lovett, and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint involved. (Georgia 34, Kentucky 16)

Palmer Thombs (14-13)

This is a redemption game opportunity for Georgia. That’s a term I have used all week, and I think they take personally the criticism and questioning that’s come there way in the aftermath of a narrow win over Auburn. Georgia didn’t defend the run well. Kentucky is coming off of a game in which it dominated on the ground. There lies the biggest opportunity for redemption while the offense keeps on rolling led by Brock Bowers and Carson Beck. Expecting strong efforts out of the entire defensive group. (Georgia 31, Kentucky 14)

National Games of the Week (Against the Spread)

No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Texas (-6.5) / 12:00 p.m. ET, ABC
Wes: Texas
Jeremy: Texas
Reuse: Texas
Rowe: Oklahoma
Palmer: Texas

Maryland @ No. 4 Ohio State (-20) / 12:00 p.m. ET, FOX
Wes: Maryland
Jeremy: Maryland
Reuse: Ohio State
Rowe: Ohio State
Palmer: Ohio State

No. 23 LSU (-5.5) @ No. 21 Missouri / 12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Wes: Missouri
Jeremy: LSU
Reuse: LSU
Rowe: LSU
Palmer: LSU

No. 11 Alabama (-2) @ Texas A&M / 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Wes: Texas A&M
Jeremy: Texas A&M
Reuse: Texas A&M
Rowe: Texas A&M
Palmer: Alabama

No. 10 Notre Dame (-6.5) @ No. 25 Louisville / 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Wes: Notre Dame
Jeremy: Notre Dame
Reuse: Notre Dame
Rowe: Notre Dame
Palmer: Notre Dame

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