Kentucky vs. Georgia: KSR Staff Predictions

While all of the KSR crew picked Kentucky to beat Florida last week, none of us predicted the Cats would win in the dominant manner that they did. Now, No. 20 Kentucky (5-0, 2-0 SEC) heads to No. 1 Georgia (5-0, 2-0 SEC) on Saturday to battle for first place in the SEC East. The back-to-back national champs looked vulnerable vs. Auburn and South Carolina; can Kentucky pull off an upset for the ages between the hedges?

After a long week of waiting, the KSR crew is ready to weigh in on whether or not the Cats can get their first win over the Bulldogs in the Mark Stoops era and fourth win over a top-ranked team in program history.

Tyler Thompson

I’ve gone back and forth on this game all week. After watching Kentucky dominate Florida and Georgia struggle against Auburn, I cracked open the door to the possibility of an upset for the ages. As the week has gone on, my foot’s been nudging it open even more.

If there’s a year to beat Georgia, it’s this one. As mentioned, the Bulldogs have looked vulnerable on more than one occasion this season. They still have the talent advantage, but the gap is narrower than it’s ever been in the Mark Stoops era. With the SEC doing away with divisions next year, this is Kentucky’s last chance to grab the brass ring of an SEC East title, the one big hurdle the Cats have been chasing since Stoops arrived in Lexington. I truly do believe it could happen.

But will it? If this game was in Lexington, I think it would. Unfortunately, it’s in Sanford Stadium, at night, with a team that’s used to the big-game spotlight. Kentucky looked GREAT vs. Florida, but we’ve yet to see the offense firing on all cylinders. As much as I would love for that to happen vs. the two-time defending national champs, that’s a big ask, especially in their house. Plus, they have Brock Bowers, who is apparently the most magnificent thing since sliced bread. I watched him save Georgia last week vs. Auburn. Big-time players step up in big-time games. Brad White’s defense is great, so he may have to do it again on Saturday.

I pray he won’t. Sticking with my head for now, but I sure as heck hope I’m wrong. I’ll probably change this prediction ten times before kickoff.

Score: Georgia 24, Kentucky 20

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Adam Luckett

For the first time since 2016, I believe you can legitimately say that you think Kentucky has multiple on-paper matchup advantages entering the game against Georgia. The Wildcats have a more explosive offense, the best tailback, the best line-of-scrimmage player, and a history of keeping games surprisingly close in this series.

The path to an upset is there. Unfortunately, Kentucky is lacking in one big area.

To beat a Kirby Smart defense, you typically must be able to hit on vertical concepts with good throws and competitive catches. Devin Leary has been too hot and cold and Kentucky’s wideouts have been too inconsistent to trust that they can go out there and win a bunch of individual battles against a very good secondary.

Kentucky jumps out to an early lead, the defense keeps them in the game all night, Ray Davis pops a big run or two, and there will be a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, an inconsistent passing game will ultimately hold Kentucky back.

The Cats lose a close one on the road.

Score: Georgia 23, Kentucky 17

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Nick Roush

I’m writing this from a rainy Louisville, Kentucky. My feelings will likely change once I arrive in Athens, Georgia, and smell the upset in the air.

The path to an upset is clear for Kentucky. The Wildcats defense will make Georgia one-dimensional and create havoc that can give Liam Coen’s offense opportunities to score on a short field. My concern is that Kentucky will not take advantage of those opportunities.

In every recent trip between the hedges, there’s a sliding doors moment that should go Kentucky’s way but doesn’t. In 2017 Josh Allen picked off a pass in Georgia territory. CJ Conrad broke his foot and the play that got the tight end wide open was dropped by Justin Rigg. Cats left points off the scoreboard with a field goal and lost. Two years later Chris Rodriguez dropped a pass in the end zone to give Kentucky a lead in the third quarter. In 2021 a football was lying on the ground, the defense assumed it was an incomplete pass. It was not. Georgia recovered the fumble and eventually turned it into points.

The Kentucky offense ranks 13th in the SEC in the red zone and the wide receivers have been inconsistent. Unless this is the week Dane Key, Izayah Cummings, and the Kentucky tight ends start making contested catches, Georgia has too much for the Cats.

Score: Georgia 20, Kentucky 13

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Drew Franklin

Not all No. 1 Georgia teams are the same. Two years ago, Georgia’s defense had FIVE first-round draft picks plus an offense with several NFL players across the board. The following year, Georgia repeated as national champs with a 65-7 win in the BCS title game, the most lopsided bowl game in FBS history.

This year, however, No. 1 Georgia has flaws. Sure, Brock Bowers is still there doing Brock Bowers things, and the defense is a top-15 unit nationally in several statistics. But the Dawgs have taken some punches on the chin, even at home where, two weeks ago, South Carolina led 14-3 at halftime in Athens. Last week, Georgia needed a late fourth-quarter touchdown to beat Auburn. Auburn led 10-0 early on its home field.

This Saturday, Georgia gets the advantage of returning home to play under Sanford Stadium’s lights, laying more than two touchdowns to the Kentucky Wildcats. But Kentucky is a fearless football team with a stout defense that bends but doesn’t break. For my prediction, Kentucky hangs with Georgia on the road, and frustration sets in for the back-to-back champs when it is a low-scoring game going into the fourth quarter.

The second-half comeback magic Georgia used the last two weeks runs dry. In the road whites, Kentucky’s offense hits a couple of explosive plays late in the game as panic ensues between the hedges. Then, Kentucky’s Alex Raynor makes the Georgia nightmare a reality with a go-ahead field goal in the state he used to call home.

Cats win and become the SEC’s only undefeated team.

Score: Kentucky 20, Georgia 17

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Zack Geoghegan

Georgia is going to bounce back from last week’s so-so performance. I feel confident about that. Kentucky won’t be leading by 10 points in the first half like South Carolina and Auburn did against the Bulldogs. This one will be tight from start to finish.

As Freddie Maggard has said all week, only one team has #19 on their roster. All-American tight end Brock Bowers is always one possession away from taking over a game by himself. He doesn’t need a 25-year-old quarterback throwing him the ball anymore either — Bowers is a one-man wrecking crew when he gets in the zone. How Kentucky contains Bowers (we’re looking at you, Alex Afari) is going to tell the tale of how this one ends.

In the offseason, I projected a Kentucky loss. Months later, I’m sticking with that pick. While the ‘Cats did look up to the task against Florida, I’m still left questioning how good that Gators team actually was. Georgia isn’t going to lie down and quit in the first quarter like Florida did. Kentucky still hasn’t truly put together a full game’s worth of work — but then again, neither has Georgia. That being said, I give the edge to the home team and two-time defending champion. The Bulldogs will still have the overall talent advantage, although Kentucky isn’t too far behind.

I can trust Ray Davis and to an extent the Big Blue Wall, but I still can’t quite trust Devin Leary and the receiving corps just yet. I’m still calling for a very close game though. Kentucky will have the chance to win down the stretch. But in the end, the nation’s top-ranked team will hold onto that title going into Sunday morning.

Score: Georgia 27, Kentucky 24

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Jack Pilgrim

It’s time. If there was ever a year to get the Georgia monkey off Kentucky’s back, it’s this one. The Bulldogs are down and haven’t looked like world-beaters in either of their SEC victories. As for the Wildcats, they’ve covered in four of five matchups and still have left plenty of good football on the field. We haven’t seen Devin Leary or the receivers at their best, offensive line just now starting to find its groove. The team was mentally engaged for the first time all season in the Florida beatdown, and despite an ugly mid-week practice that left Mark Stoops pissed off, I’m convinced they’ll be locked in with something to prove against the No. 1 team in the nation.

Brad White will limit what Georgia does best — getting the ball to Brock Bowers — and force the Bulldogs to beat them elsewhere. It’s going to create a rock fight with limited explosives, but steady, all-around football for both sides. Back and forth from start to finish, the Wildcats get the ball late for a chance to win and Leary converts.

It’s the closest the talent differential has been in the Stoops era and the game will reflect that. Kentucky wins to move to 6-0 and control its destiny in the SEC East the rest of the way.

Time to break down another barrier.

Score: Kentucky 27, Georgia 24

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