Kentucky at Georgia – College Football Predictions
The Game
Play time is over, yo.
Georgia may be a shoe-in for the SEC Championship game BUT they have most likely lost all wiggle room in terms of making the playoff after their beating at the hands of Auburn. How will Georgia respond after the beatdown ? Kentucky has already bagged seven wins and need to be given credit for a fine campaign. The schedule has not been brutal BUT wins are wins are wins. Can they SHOCK the world this week ? Let’s dig in !
The Details
Georgia -21.5 Kentucky (50.5)
MEGALOCKS LINE – Georgia -17
Sagarin Ratings – Georgia -22
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: Georgia 36 Kentucky 14.5
Massey Ratings Projected Score: Georgia 38 Kentucky 14
The Match-Up
Georgia offense vs Kentucky defense
Time to get angry and knock some peeps off the ball. Georgia still has one of the best running games in college football and will look to take out their frustration this week vs Kentucky. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have combined for over 1,600 yards and 19 TDs on the ground but face a pretty decent run defense (Kentucky #4 SEC run defense, #4 YPC allowed). We worry that Kentucky has not faced many challenges in terms of running games and were lit up for almost 300 yards on the ground by Mississippi St. QB Jake Fromm did not have much time to do anything last week but should have plenty of opportunities to light up Kentucky in the passing game. Kentucky has allowed 34,45,26,37,21 in their past five games. It feels to us like Georgia gets past their implied team total.
Kentucky offense vs Georgia defense
RB Benny Snell is one of the most underrated RBs in college football (over 1,000 yards rushing; 15 (!) TDs) and he is going to have to have a huge game for the Wildcats to pull the upset. QB Stephen Johnson is crafty enough to keep the chains moving but we worry about their ability to do even close to what Auburn managed to achieve last week. They did manage to get 23 vs SC and 27 vs Florida but were held to just 7 points on the road vs Miss St. Georgia brings the #5 defense in the FBS (#5 run D) into this game. Kentucky will have their hands full grinding out drives. They will need some big plays out of the passing game (not impossible) and at least a few big runs out of Snell.
MEGA-MAZING MINUTIA
Both teams are in the top 10 in the NCAA in red zone offense (GA – #1; Kentucky #9)……..Kentucky lost a close one to Georgia last season at home 27-24…..Two years ago they were held in check at Georgia (27-3 loss).
Summary
This feels like too many points but can this Kentucky defense be trusted ?
Conclusion
Opinion: Best play on the game ? Lean – Georgia TT over
Are we playing this game ? Yes, small potatoes.