Kentucky Wildcats vs Georgia Bulldogs Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

Georgia is favored by -24 points as they head into this week three matchup against Kentucky on Saturday, September 14th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 ET from Kroger Field in Lexington, and ABC will be handling the television broadcast. The over/under line is currently 45 points. The Bulldogs are 2-0 on the season, while the Wildcats are 1-1.

Georgia vs. Kentucky Key Information

• Teams: Bulldogs at Wildcats
• Where: Kroger Field Lexington
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds GA -3761 | UK +1283 O/U 45

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The Bulldogs Can Win If…

Georgia is now 2-0 after a 48-3 win over Tennessee Tech. No betting lines were available for this matchup.

The Bulldogs dominated from the start, jumping out to a 14-0 lead. By halftime, they were up 24-0, and in the third quarter, they added 21 more points. Georgia’s defense held Tennessee Tech to just three points, and the Bulldogs finished the game with a 45-point lead, allowing a field goal in the fourth quarter.

Georgia’s offense was unstoppable in their 48-3 win, racking up 498 total yards and 27 first downs. The Bulldogs’ passing game was particularly potent, with Carson Beck throwing for 242 yards and five touchdowns while completing 72% of his passes. Arian Smith was his top target, hauling in four receptions for 73 yards.

On the ground, Georgia picked up 166 yards, with Trevor Etienne leading the way with 78 yards on just five carries. The Bulldogs’ balanced attack resulted in five passing touchdowns and one score on the ground.

Georgia’s defense was nearly impenetrable in their most recent game, holding Tennessee Tech to just 18 passing yards on 5 completions. The Bulldogs allowed a total of 134 yards, with the majority of those yards coming on the ground, where they gave up 116 yards on 40 carries. Georgia’s defense was dominant, not allowing a single point and holding Tennessee Tech to just 9 first downs.

• Georgia has put together a record of 3-0 over their past three games. Against the spread, the team is 2-1 in these same games while going 1-2 on the over/under.
• Across Georgia’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 9-1. This includes going 5-5 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Wildcats Can Win If…

Kentucky is now 1-1 after a 31-6 loss to South Carolina. The Wildcats were -9.5 point favorites but ended up losing by 25 points, failing to cover the spread. The over/under line was set at 41.5 points, but the game finished with just 37 combined points.

South Carolina took an early 7-0 lead, but Kentucky narrowed the gap to 10-6 by halftime. However, the Wildcats were shut out in the third quarter, and South Carolina added another touchdown in the fourth, resulting in a 31-6 defeat for Kentucky.

In their 31-6 loss to South Carolina, Kentucky’s offense was limited to 183 total yards. The Wildcats managed just 44 passing yards, with Brock Vandagriff completing 3 of 10 passes for 30 yards and throwing one interception. The running game was more productive, gaining 139 yards on 46 carries, but it failed to find the end zone.

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye led the ground attack with 70 yards on 17 carries. Dane Key was the top receiver, with two catches for 36 yards.

Kentucky’s defense will be looking to bounce back after giving up 255 total yards and 31 points in their most recent game. The Wildcats struggled to stop South Carolina’s passing attack, allowing 166 yards through the air and two touchdowns. On the ground, they gave up 89 rushing yards and one touchdown. Kentucky’s defense did manage to force one interception in the game.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Kentucky Wildcats have gone 1-2 straight up. Across this span, their ATS record sits at 2-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Across Kentucky’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 5-5. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 5-5 and an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

Georgia is favored by -24 points in their week three matchup against Kentucky. We have a projected final score of 25-15 in favor of Georgia, but we like Kentucky to cover the spread as the heavy underdog.

With the over/under line set at 45 points, our projection of 40 total points suggests taking the under as the best play.

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No. 1 Georgia Faces Ex-Bulldogs QB Brock Vandagriff and Kentucky in SEC Showdown

No. 1 Georgia (2-0) will put its impressive 41-game regular-season winning streak on the line this Saturday as they travel to Lexington, Ky., to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a key SEC matchup. Georgia, unbeaten in regular-season play since November 2020, looks to maintain its dominant form while Kentucky aims to bounce back after a rough loss last week.

Georgia’s Dominant Start to the Season

Commanding Wins and a Potent Offense

The Bulldogs have looked every bit like the top-ranked team in the nation, cruising to a 48-3 victory over Tennessee Tech last weekend. Quarterback Carson Beck tied a school record with five touchdown passes in just over a half of play, continuing Georgia’s trend of outscoring their first two opponents 82-6.

Now, they face their first road test of the season against Kentucky, and head coach Kirby Smart knows it won’t be easy.

“That’s a tough place to play,” Smart said of Kentucky’s Kroger Field. “Every time we’ve played there, it’s been really tough. It’s going to be really loud, and we’ve got to prepare for a tough, physical game.”

Georgia’s Defense: A Brick Wall

While the offense has been explosive, Georgia’s defense has been suffocating, allowing just six points through two games. The Bulldogs’ defense, led by their relentless pass rush, will be a key factor as they look to shut down Kentucky’s offense and make life difficult for their former teammate, Brock Vandagriff.

Brock Vandagriff’s Reunion with Georgia

From Georgia to Kentucky

The storyline of this game centers around former Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff, now leading the Wildcats. A former five-star recruit, Vandagriff spent three seasons as a backup at Georgia, throwing for 165 yards and two touchdowns before transferring to Kentucky in December. Saturday marks a reunion for Vandagriff, now tasked with reviving a struggling Kentucky offense.

“What Brock did for this university was awesome,” Smart said. “He was a wonderful teammate and a great kid who always put the team first.”

Vandagriff’s Struggles and Kentucky’s Offensive Woes

After a promising Week 1 performance in a win over Southern Miss, Vandagriff and the Kentucky offense faltered last weekend, losing 31-6 to South Carolina. Vandagriff completed just 3 of 10 passes for 30 yards and threw an interception before being replaced by Gavin Wimsatt, who also struggled.

Vandagriff knows that bouncing back against Georgia will be a challenge: “Georgia’s got a good squad, and we’ve got a good squad as well,” Vandagriff said. “The main thing is putting that [South Carolina] game to bed, getting our corrections, and then we’ll attack Georgia when it’s time.”

Georgia’s Dominance in the Series

Georgia has dominated the all-time series against Kentucky, holding a commanding 63-12-2 record. The Wildcats’ last victory over the Bulldogs came in 2009, and Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is still seeking his first win over Georgia in his 12-year tenure. Most of those games have been lopsided, with all but one meeting decided by double digits.

Stoops is aware of the uphill battle Kentucky faces after last week’s tough loss: “We better turn the page quickly, but we have to own that performance first,” Stoops said. “The schedule only gets harder with playing Kirby’s No. 1 team in the nation. We’ll be up for that challenge. I expect our team to respond.”

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Key Storylines to Watch

Georgia’s Defense: Can They Stay Dominant?

Georgia’s defense has allowed just six points through two games and will aim to continue that dominance against a struggling Kentucky offense. Their pass rush will be critical in disrupting Vandagriff, who is looking to regain his form after last week’s struggles.

Brock Vandagriff’s Response to Facing His Old Team

The spotlight will be on Vandagriff as he faces his former team. Will he rise to the occasion, or will Georgia’s defense make his homecoming a difficult one? Vandagriff’s ability to lead the Wildcats’ offense will be pivotal in keeping the game competitive.

Georgia’s First Road Test of the Season

The Bulldogs have looked unstoppable so far, but this will be their first road game of the season in a tough environment. Kroger Field will be rocking, and how Georgia handles the pressure of a hostile crowd will be a key factor.

Kentucky’s History Against No. 1 Teams

Kentucky has a 3-17 all-time record against No. 1 teams, with their most recent upset coming in 2007 against LSU. The Wildcats will need to play a near-perfect game if they hope to break Georgia’s 41-game regular-season winning streak and secure a massive upset.