NO. 10 GEORGIA (5-1, 2-1 SEC) VS. KENTUCKY (3-3, 1-3)
6 p.m. › Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. ESPN & 102.3 FM
THE MATCHUP
Georgia’s ground game repeatedly gashed Kentucky last November in Lexington, producing 331 yards on 50 carries. D’Andre Swift rushed for 156 yards and Elijah Holyfield had 117, with Swift’s 83-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter giving the Bulldogs a 28-3 lead on their way to a 34-17 triumph. Breakaway runs have been mostly absent for the Bulldogs this season, with Swift carrying 23 times for 113 yards in last week’s double-overtime loss to South Carolina with a long of 14. Kentucky allowed 146.4 rushing yards a game last season but has yielded an average of 173.2 through six games, ranking 82nd nationally. “Georgia is so big and physical up front, and they have a stable of backs that is so deep with Swift all the way down,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “It feels like they have four really talented guys. We’ve been inconsistent, and if we’re not on point, Georgia will embarrass us.”
ONE TO WATCH
This could easily be Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm and Kentucky receiver-turned-quarterback Lynn Bowden. Fromm should be worth following as he seeks to bounce back from the first three-interception game of his career. “Jake has been great this week,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said. “He’s been helping those wideouts and challenging them, just as he was before.” The play of Bowden, who rushed for 196 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for a score as the fill-in quarterback in last week’s win against Arkansas, likely will have more of an impact as to how tight this game is. “They’ve got designed runs for him, but sometimes it’s his other runs that are more frustrating,” Smart said. “He’s tough to prepare for, because you’re really not seeing this anymore.” If Sawyer Smith is healthy, then Stoops likely will employ two quarterbacks.
IN THE END
Last year’s matchup decided the SEC East. Whoever loses this one will have more regular-season losses than a year ago. “It’s our homecoming game, and I’m looking for a great atmosphere,” Smart said. “Kentucky was one of the toughest, most physical games we had last year, and that staff coaches them to be physical across the board.” The weather is expected to be miserable throughout the day and could affect the crowd, but it shouldn’t affect the disparity in talent.