Georgia @ Kentucky preview
Kroger Field
Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2009 ) Kentucky 34, Georgia 27
After four straight losses earlier this season, Georgia was reeling.
The grumblings for a new coach grew louder and louder and off-field incidents surely didn’t help the perception of the program, which was expected to compete for the SEC East title.
But all is relatively in quiet in Athens since the Bulldogs won their last two games convincingly, 41-14 over Tennessee and a 43-0 shutout over Vanderbilt last week.
The Bulldogs (3-4, 2-3 SEC) likely will face a stiffer test Saturday when they travel to Kentucky (4-3, 1-3) in a matchup of second-tier SEC teams playing for a bowl berth.
Kentucky is coming off a huge 31-28 victory over then-No. 12 South Carolina. The Wildcats also narrowly lost to undefeated Auburn 37-34 the previous week.
Georgia is hoping to continue its turnaround and claim its first road win. After last week’s dominant performance, they might be on their way. Freshman quarterback Aaron Murray had the best day of his career, throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns while sitting out the fourth quarter.
Murray has 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions on the season and has completed a pass of at least 40 yards in six of seven games. With running back Caleb King serving the first of a two-game suspension, Washaun Ealey turned in his biggest day of the season with 123 yards on 17 carries.
A.J. Green, who has four touchdowns in three games, headlines an impressive group of receivers.
The Bulldogs surely will go after a Wildcats defense that has given up an average of 38 points in its last four games. South Carolina threw for 382 yards in Kentucky’s 31-28 win last week.
The Wildcats also like to put the ball up in the air. Mike Hartline comes off of a career-high 349 yards passing and four touchdowns and receiver Chris Matthews caught 12 balls for 177 yards and a touchdown.
Hartline, a 6-foot-6 senior, has 13 touchdowns on the year. Matthews, whose six touchdown grabs lead the SEC, and the versatile Randall Cobb have combined for 11 touchdown catches. The Wildcats rank 25th nationally with 270.6 yards passing per game and 21st in scoring with 35.3 per game.
Georgia’s defense has been solid, allowing 17.4 points per game (20th).
The Wildcats’ big win last week halted a three-game losing streak and sets them up for the stretch run that has No. 24 Mississippi State as the only ranked team. Their last three opponents all have sub-.500 records.
Wildcats cornerback Martavius Neloms is questionable after suffering a concussion against South Carolina.
Kentucky has won two of the last three meetings against Georgia, including a 34-27 win last year. But Georgia has won 16 of the last 19 and leads the series 49-12-2.