Georgia football takes on Kentucky tonight as the Dawgs look to regain some momentum it lost last week. Here are this week’s staff predictions from Dawn of the Dawg.
Today’s the day that we get to see if Georgia football got the wake-up call from South Carolina or if it’s the beginning of another long season.
Georgia and Kentucky kick off tonight at 6 p.m., and it’s going to be a messy one. It’s supposed to rain, and that is never a good mixture with football.
The Dawgs are currently 5-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play looking for win No. 3 over the Wildcats. Kentucky is now 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the SEC and looking to find a way to turn the season around.
Georgia’s offense has been quite potent this season, until last week. Regardless of how the Dawgs did against the Gamecocks, they average 38.5 points a game, 237.20 rushing, 267.67 passing, and 504.8 overall yards a game.
The Dawgs defense has also done some impressive things through six games.
Those junkyard Dawgs only give up on average 12.33 points a game, 73.3 rushing, 208.33 passing and 281.7 overall yards.
Opponents only average 2.7 yards each time they run the ball and 4.4 overall regardless of play.
The Dawgs have done an excellent job on defense, and they’ll have to keep it up against the Wildcats.
Kentucky has had a hard time this season overcoming the significant losses to the NFL Draft last year.
The Wildcats are currently averaging 23.50 points, 192.30 rushing, 192.00 passing and 384.3 overall yards a game.
Their defense gives up 23.67 points, 173.2 on the ground, 207.50 through the air and 380.8 overall yards each game.
Kentucky is no pushover, and the staff here at Dawn of the Dawg think Georgia’s going to win but will have to hold off a gritty Wildcat team trying to create some magic this season.
Savannah Richardson
Georgia’s got something to prove today against a scrappy Kentucky team. While the Wildcats don’t have the same squad they did last year, this group almost beat Florida.
The Dawgs will likely keep running this week, and shouldn’t have too much of a problem. With this terrible weather, let’s keep the passing to a minimum.
I want to see the defense create a ton of havoc. The lack of pressure last week was evident and one of the multiple reasons Georgia lost.
The Dawgs currently have 38 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and 103 quarterback hurries. Georgia’s defense also forced eight turnovers this season.
I want to see this junkyard dawgs defense to have double digit tackles for loss, at least three sacks and two turnovers. The Dawgs should be able to exceed my challenge or at least accomplish it.
Score Prediction: Georgia 41-7
Jonathan Williams
After hitting a significant bump in the road last week, Georgia is looking to have a major bounce back against Kentucky. Quite frankly, I would hate to be the Wildcats right now as Georgia is coming into this week angry, frustrated, and looking to make a statement.
Kentucky does have some playmakers like Lynn Bowden, but I don’t know that his skills are going to be enough to make it two upsets in a row against the Dawgs.
I expect to see a laser-sharp focused Bulldog team which will lead them to a big SEC bounce back win heading into the by week. Dawgs will take the victory by a score of 41-17
Score Prediction: Georgia 41-17
Brenden Armour
Last week was an ugly day for the Bulldogs, but it is not the end of the season as plenty of teams have gone on to make the College Football Playoffs after losing to an unranked opponent.
The Bulldogs’ fate is simple; win out the rest of the regular season and then beat whoever wins the SEC West between LSU and Alabama. As long as the Bulldogs do all of this, they should still get in the playoffs as the fourth-ranked team at worst.
A loss like this is not unprecedented for the Kirby Smart led Bulldogs.
The first year we made the playoffs the Dawgs lost to Auburn before taking revenge in the SEC Championship game. Last year, Georgia lost to LSU and Fromm had a terrible game.
Then the team, and especially Fromm, bounced back big in a win over Florida before going onto miss the playoffs following a heartbreaking loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship.
This year it looks like the bad regular-season loss was last Saturday, but look for the Dawgs to bounce back big this week against Kentucky as they try to get back to Atlanta for the SEC Championship.
The Kentucky Wildcats are not as good as they were last year as they lost their starting quarterback earlier this year and lost a numerous amount of defensive starters to the NFL last year.
However, their offense can still produce havoc in the run game with their talented duo led by Kavosiey Smoke. The Georgia run defense has been stellar this year; however, so the defense should be able to contain the Kentucky offense to around 10 points much like they have almost every other opponent this year.
Offensively, the Bulldogs have to bounce back in a big way after the unexpected way they played last week.
I expect Fromm to be on point and driving the ball where it needs to go with accuracy. Fromm generally has one lousy game every year, but also returns the next week with an impressive showing.
Fromm will lead the offense to a big day with lots of points with help from running backs D’Andre Swift and Zamir White on the ground.
Score Prediction: Georgia Bulldogs 45, Kentucky Wildcats 10
Eric Taylor
This week I believe the Dawgs will be motivated to show they are still worthy playoff contenders. Georgia’s going up against the No. 82 rushing defense in the nation, so expect them to pound the ball early and often.
The Dawgs defense has only given up an average of 12 points a game and still has yet to give up a rushing touchdown. I believe this could hold again this Saturday.
Nolan Smith is gaining more and more trust with the coaching staff, and I believe he and Azeez Ojulari are going to be a nightmare down the stretch for opposing quarterbacks.
Score Prediction: Georgia 35 Kentucky 10
Davis Kimball
After one of the worst performances in recent memory for Georgia football, the Dawgs will get back on track against SEC East foe Kentucky on Saturday.
I am sure the Dawgs had a long, grueling week of practice to clean up the mistakes from South Carolina. Every game for the rest of the regular season is a must-win for Georgia, and it begins on Saturday against Kentucky. Look for the Dawgs to get back on track against the Wildcats.
Score Prediction: Georgia 35, Kentucky 14
Richard Gnann
Kentucky isn’t having the follow-up season to its stellar 2018 campaign it hoped for, but Georgia now knows not to overlook anyone.
That’s terrible news for the Wildcats.
Kentucky will bring a three-headed quarterback attack to Athens, complicating preparations for Smart’s defense. The Dawg defense will be ready, though, there is little doubt of that. Jake Fromm will be prepped to the hilt and will once again prove the thing he does best is bounce back from adversity.
Look for the Georgia kiddie corps wide receivers to take a step up and for the game to be in hand when Dawg fans light up Sanford Stadium at the end of the third quarter. Georgia 38 – Kentucky 10.