How No. 11 Kentucky and No. 1 Georgia match up — with a game prediction
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Preview: No. 11 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia
Click below to read more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s preview coverage ahead of Saturday’s Kentucky-Georgia football game at 3:30 p.m. in Athens, Ga.
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How the No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats (6-0, 4-0 SEC) and the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs ( 6-0, 4-0 SEC) match up at each position — with a game prediction:
Quarterbacks
▪ Kentucky’s Will Levis (64.4% completions, 1,134 passing yards, 11 TDs, six interceptions) played his best game at UK in last week’s 42-21 decimation of LSU. Hitting on the shorter routes that had previously vexed him, the Penn State transfer completed 14 of 17 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Levis also ran 11 times for 75 yards and two TDs. It will take a similar performance from the 6-foot-3, 232-pound product of Madison, Conn., for the Cats to have a shot in Athens.
▪ A rare commodity in 2021 college football — the capable, experienced backup QB — Georgia’s Stetson Bennett (69.4% completions, 746 yards, eight TDs, two interceptions) turned in a gem in the Bulldogs’ 34-10 win at Auburn last week. The 5-11, 190-pound senior completed 14 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two TDs and ran for 41 yards on six carries. Bennett got the start for Georgia in the Bulldogs’ 14-3 win over Kentucky in Lexington last season. He completed nine of 13 throws for 131 yards but was intercepted twice. JT Daniels, the USC transfer and Georgia starting QB, has missed three games due to lat and oblique injuries but reportedly started throwing in practice this week.
Advantage: Even.
Running backs
▪ UK’s Christopher Rodriguez (768 rushing yards, five TDs, 6.4 yards per carry) continues to lead the SEC in rushing. The 5-foot-11, 224-pound product of McDonough, Ga., had a strong game against his home-state school last season, rushing for 108 yards on 20 carries in Kentucky’s loss to the Bulldogs. Kavosiey Smoke is also coming off the best game of his UK career, having run for 104 yards on 12 carries in the win over LSU. JuTahn McClain scored his first college TD vs. LSU on a 25-yard pass off a wheel route.
▪ Georgia’s Zamir White (354 rushing yards, six TDs, 5.0 ypc) leads a deep stable of backs for Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs. The 6-foot, 215-pound junior ran strong against UK last season, going for 136 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Senior James Cook (250 yards, two TDs, 6.0 ypc) and sophomore Kendall Milton (216, one, 4.7) are also capable. Junior Kenny McIntosh is a threat running (141 yards, one TD, 4.4 ypc) or receiving (six catches, 83 yards, one TD).
Advantage: Kentucky.
Wide receivers
▪ Since transferring from Nebraska, Kentucky junior slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (37 catches, 527 yards, four TDs) has been the dynamic playmaker the Wildcats had lacked once Lynn Bowden departed. Mark Stoops indicated that UK is again likely to be without senior Josh Ali (17 catches, 248 yards, one TD), who was injured in the Cats’ 20-13 win over then-No. 10 Florida and sat out vs. LSU. That’s a significant absence for Kentucky against the nation’s top-ranked defense.
▪ Georgia’s Ladd McConkey (16 catches, 280 yards, two TDs) was named SEC Freshman of the Week after he caught five passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in the win at Auburn. George Pickens, expected to be Georgia’s No. 1 wideout, was lost to a torn ACL in spring practice. Sophomore Jermaine Burton (13, 224, two) is expected back this week after missing the Auburn game with injury. Junior Kearis Jackson (seven catches, 67 yards) caught three passes for 25 yards vs. UK in 2020.
Advantage: Georgia.
Tight ends
▪ Kentucky super senior Justin Rigg (six catches, 85 receiving yards) had a 34-yard reception in the win over LSU. Sophomore Izayah Cummings (three catches, 51 yards, one TD) had what appeared to be a TD reception last week only to see it overturned by the officials.
▪ Georgia freshman Brock Bowers (20 catches, 315 yards, four TDs) has been the Bulldogs’ breakout offensive star in 2021. The 6-4, 230-pound product of Napa, Calif., had three receptions for 43 yards last week at Auburn. Sophomore Darnell Washington caught a 33-yard pass vs. UK in 2020.
Advantage: Georgia.
Offensive linemen
▪ It has been a banner week of awards for Kentucky right guard Eli Cox. The sophomore was named SEC co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for his play against LSU. The 6-4, 301-pound West Jessamine product had seven knockdown blocks, 15 blocks at the point of attack and did not miss an assignment. Cox was also named a mid-season All-American by ESPN.com. For “The Big Blue Wall,” a Georgia defensive line some are proclaiming as the best in college football history will be the ultimate test.
▪ Georgia senior left tackle Jamaree Salyer left the Auburn game with an injured ankle. His status for Saturday was unclear. Redshirt freshman Broderick Jones filled in for Salyer last week.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Defensive linemen
▪ With nose guard Marquan McCall and tackle Octavious Oxendine each sidelined by injuries, Kentucky end Josh Paschal (team-high 7.5 tackles for loss) is the only UK normal starter along the defensive front who will play against Georgia.
▪ A 6-6, 340-pound senior nose guard, Georgia’s Jordan Davis (15 tackles, five QB hurries, three TFL, 1.5 sacks) has been so disruptive for the nation’s top defense that some are touting him for the Heisman Trophy. Senior tackle Devonte Wyatt (10 QB hurries, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks), junior end Travon Walker (10 hurries, 2.5 TFL, two sacks) and sophomore nose guard Jalen Carter (17 hurries, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) are all forces in their own right, too.
Advantage: Georgia.
Linebackers
▪ Kentucky WLB DeAndre Square (team-high 45 tackles; second-on-the-team 6.5 TFL) had a tone-setting QB sack and forced fumble in the win over LSU. Rush end/OLB Jordan Wright is second on the UK team with five pass breakups. The senior had seven tackles vs. Georgia last year.
▪ Georgia junior ILB Nakobe Dean (23 tackles, 11 QB hurries, four TFL, 3.5 sacks, an interception) is another player named to ESPN.com’s midseason All-America team. The Horn Lake, Miss., product made 14 tackles against Kentucky last year. Senior SLB Adam Anderson leads the Bulldogs in sacks (four) and also has 11 QB hurries.
Advantage: Georgia.
Defensive backs
▪ UK senior free safety Yusuf Corker, another product of McDonough, Ga., is the Wildcats’ team leader in pass breakups (six) and is third in tackles (36). Strong safety Tyrell Ajian (28 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups) and nickel back Davonte Robinson (29 tackles, three TFL), both seniors, have also played well in 2021.
▪ Georgia strong safety Christopher Smith scored the only touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 10-3, season-opening win over Clemson on a 74-yard interception return. However, a shoulder injury has made his playing status vs. UK uncertain. Free safety Lewis Cine and nickel back Latavious Brini are tied for the team lead with five pass breakups each.
Advantage: Georgia.
Special teams
▪ Kentucky place-kicker Matt Ruffolo (4-5 FGAs, long of 45) accounted for the only points UK has scored against Georgia in the past two seasons when he booted a 34-yard field goal last year. Punter Colin Goodfellow (44.8 yards a kick average, eight of 16 punts stopped inside the opponents’ 20) has performed at a high level since replacing an injured Wilson Berry.
▪ Georgia place-kicker Jack Podlesny has never missed an extra point as a collegian and is 22-of-28 on field-goal attempts. Punter Jake Camarda attained various All-America designations last season, including First Team by Pro Football Focus. This year, Camarda is averaging 45.3 yards a kick and has stopped nine of 18 punts inside the 20.
Advantage: Georgia.
Prediction
Georgia 29, Kentucky 10.
This story was originally published October 14, 2021 at 7:00 AM.
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