Georgia is hosting Kentucky on Saturday afternoon of Week 6. The game will take place at 12:00 p.m. ET in Athens, Georgia.
The Bulldogs are 20.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 48.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this Kentucky vs. Georgia SEC conference matchup.
Kentucky vs. Georgia prediction, preview
Kentucky Preview
Things are not looking good in Lexington at the moment. Mark Stoops turned this program into a perennial winner, making eight straight bowl games from 2016 to 2023. However, last season the Wildcats really struggled, going 4-8 overall and 1-7 in SEC play. This season, things are looking to be on a similar trajectory. Kentucky’s transfer quarterback, Zach Calzada, struggled out of the gate and suffered an injury. They are now starting freshman quarterback Cutter Boley, who is clearly not yet ready for the moment. The Wildcats have lost both of their SEC games so far this season, including one of the more winnable conference games on their schedule against South Carolina last week. This game against Georgia starts a run of three straight games against top-15 teams, a brutal stretch for the Wildcats. They have been able to keep these games close over the years against top-tier competition, but this team is not playing Mark Stoops’ Kentucky teams of old.
Georgia Preview
Georgia is coming off a tight loss to Alabama last week. The Bulldogs need to sort out the trend of putting themselves in a hole early. They were dominated in the first quarter by Alabama, then were by far the better team the rest of the game, but couldn’t quite come out on top after starting from way behind. The same thing happened in their previous game against Tennessee, where they were able to pull off the comeback and win in overtime. This team is capable of competing in the College Football Playoff, but not if they keep shooting themselves in the foot early in games. Quarterback Gunner Stockton is playing better than many expected. They also have a solid running game and great athletes on defense. Penalties, turnovers and a lack of defensive discipline to start games have been their downfall. This game against Kentucky should be a chance for Georgia to flex its muscles.
Kentucky vs. Georgia pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for Georgia to get over its team total of 34.5 points. Since SEC play started, the Georgia offense has looked dangerous. They didn’t show much in the non-conference slate but flipped a switch against Tennessee, scoring 38 points in regulation before getting the win in overtime. They lost the game to Alabama because of silly mistakes, but they averaged 6.7 yards per play against the Crimson Tide. Kentucky’s defense ranks 77th in the nation in EPA/pass, so Gunner Stockton should be able to hit some throws down the field. Stockton has connected well with Zachariah Branch so far this season. The Bulldogs also found who should be their new starting running back, Chauncey Bowens, against Alabama. Kentucky just gave up 35 points to a South Carolina team that was previously considered incompetent on offense. Georgia should be able to replicate that performance, and more, to get over this team total.
