Kentucky vs. Georgia Prediction: No. 1 Bulldogs Hit the Road to Face Wildcats

Saturday’s Georgia vs. Kentucky game matches up two teams moving in very different directions.

The Bulldogs, the nation’s top team, has had no issues dispatching with its first two opponents of the season. Week 1’s 34-3 win against Clemson was a statement performance, setting the tone for what is expected to be another run at the national championship. The Wildcats had a strong Week 1 showing against Southern Miss, and followed it up with one of the most glaring losses of Week 2 , falling 31-6 at home to a South Carolina team projected to be near the bottom of the SEC.

Georgia has dominated the all-time series against Kentucky, with a 63-12-2 record in the game. Last year’s game was a 51-13 Bulldogs blowout in Athens. Kentucky’s last came back in 2009.

Kentucky vs. Georgia

Location: Kroger Field in Lexington, Kent.
Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC/ESPN+
Spread: Georgia -22
Over/Under: 44.5
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath

Why Kentucky Will Win

Stranger things have happened in college football. Kentucky hasn’t gotten the better of Georgia in well over a decade, but they’re extremely familiar with what the Dawgs bring to the table. Quarterback Brock Vandagriff and linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson transferred from Georgia to Kentucky in the offseason. Vandagriff played very poorly against South Carolina last week, but that may well have been an aberration for the former five-star recruit.

Kentucky has a strong front seven, led by NFL hopeful Deone Walker, that can make UGA’s run game work and try to force Carson Beck into some rare mistakes. Untimely turnovers can fell even the best teams, and Kentucky is going to need to make some game-flipping plays to pull this out.

Related: College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Every Game in Week 3

Why Georgia Will Win

There’s a good argument to be made that Georgia has the edge at every single position on the field. South Carolina’s strong defensive front wrecked havoc against Kentucky a week ago, and the Gamecocks’ defensive talent doesn’t stack up to Georgia’s. The Bulldogs are led by a Heisman Trophy favorite in quarterback Carson Beck, who looks completely unflappable this year, with 520 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions so far this season. Trevor Etienne and Nate Frazier combine to give Kirby Smart’s team one of the best running back duos in the nation. Georgia checks all of the boxes, and even Kentucky’s A-game may not be enough to win this one.

Related: Heisman Trophy Rankings: Texas’ Quinn Ewers Shines at Michigan, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty on the Rise

Final Analysis

Last week’s South Carolina game set off alarm bells for a Kentucky team that was already severely overmatched in this one. Georgia may drop a game this season, but this matchup in Lexington won’t be the one.

Prediction: Georgia 41, Kentucky 10

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