Georgia-Kentucky preview: Dogs seek first road win
(Note: Please join the conversation during the game on Mark Bradley’s live blog.)
The Georgia-Kentucky game (7:30 p.m. Saturday) at a glance:
3 storylines
- 1. Has Georgia’s season really turned? A season that appeared doomed when Georgia lost its first three SEC games was infused with new possibilities when South Carolina lost to Kentucky and Florida lost to Mississippi State last week. Suddenly, Georgia (3-4, 2-3 SEC) was tied with Florida for second place in the SEC East, just ½ game behind South Carolina. Winning the division remains a longshot for Georgia, especially with South Carolina holding a tiebreaker advantage, but the dream will gain steam if the Bulldogs win at Kentucky (4-3, 1-3) Saturday night.
- 2. Seeking season’s first road victory. Georgia is 0-3 on the road this season and 3-5 since the start of last season -– a stark contrast to the Bulldogs’ 30-4 record on the road in Mark Richt’s first eight seasons as coach. (Note: Neutral-site games, such as the annual game against Florida in Jacksonville, are not included in “road” records.) The Bulldogs have won back-to-back SEC games at home but need to validate those victories with a breakthrough on the road at night at Kentucky.
- 3. A big test for Todd Grantham’s defense. Georgia has moved up to No. 3 in the SEC in total defense after strong performances against Tennessee and Vanderbilt the past two weeks. Kentucky, though, will pose the toughest test for the Dogs’ defense since Ryan Mallett and Arkansas. The Wildcats have myriad playmakers on offense, starting with the versatile and dangerous Randall Cobb (33 career touchdowns as a rusher, receiver and returner). Then there’s quarterback Mike Hartline, the SEC’s No. 2 passer (1,791 yards). And there’s 6-foot-5 wide receiver Chris Matthews, who leads the SEC in touchdown receptions (six). The Wildcats will be missing one offensive weapon: Tailback Derrick Locke, the SEC’s third leading rusher, won’t play because of a shoulder stinger, Kentucky says.
A Georgia win would …
- Even the Bulldogs’ overall and SEC records at 4-4 and 3-3, respectively.
- Give the Bulldogs three consecutive SEC victories for the first time since October 2008.
A Kentucky win would …
- Be the Wildcats’ third victory in five years against Georgia, which lost to Kentucky in Athens last year and in Lexington in 2006.
- Make for a happy homecoming night in Lexington. (Yes, Georgia is Kentucky’s homecoming opponent.)
Keep an eye on …
- For Kentucky: Randall Cobb is one of the more versatile players in college football -– a threat running, catching, throwing and returning the ball. The Georgia defense’s first task is to know where he is on the field. He might be at wide receiver, or he might be taking shotgun snaps from center in the Wildcat -– Kentucky calls it the “WildCobb” -– formation. In addition, he returns punts and kickoffs and is the holder for extra points and field goals. His 33 touchdowns in 2 ½ seasons at Kentucky are divided among rushing (20), receiving (11) and punt returns (2). He also has thrown five TD passes, including one on a fake field goal.
- For Georgia: Tailback Washaun Ealey had a big game (123 yards rushing, no fumbles) against Vanderbilt in his return to the starting lineup last week, and the Bulldogs need more of the same from him. Kentucky ranks next-to-last in the SEC in rushing defense, ahead of only … Vanderbilt.
The numbers game
- +4: The turnover margin so far this season for both Georgia and Kentucky, which are tied for second in the SEC in that category behind Alabama (+7).
- 13: Games since mid-season 2006 that Kentucky has come from behind in the fourth quarter to win –- an impressive indication of the Wildcats’ resilience.
- 35.3: Average points per game scored by Kentucky this season, the most by any SEC team other than Auburn.
History book
- Series record: Georgia leads 49-12-2, including 23-7 in Lexington.
- Last meeting: Kentucky won 34-27 last season, the Wildcats’ first win in Athens since 1977, as the Bulldogs committed four second-half turnovers to squander a 20-6 halftime lead.
The bottom line
Kentucky is coming off a 31-28 victory over South Carolina, which one week earlier beat then-No. 1 Alabama 35-21 and five weeks earlier beat Georgia 17-6. Nevertheless, Georgia is favored by 3 ½.
Please join the conversation during the game on Mark Bradley’s live blog.
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195 comments Add your comment
AFDawg
October 22nd, 2010
8:11 pm
13 Arrests, Tech receives zero respect because in their long and storied tradition — they have managed to win only one NCAA team national championship in their entire history. It is by far the most abysmal sports record in all of Div I sports.
Delbert D.
October 22nd, 2010
8:57 pm
Is the game this weekend Georgia vs. Kentucky or Georgia vs. Georgia Tech?
Buzzzzzzzz
October 22nd, 2010
9:13 pm
To morons like AFDawg: Tech alumni and fans have lives that don’t depend entirely on what a bunch of kids does on Saturday afternoons. College sports are fun to follow, but the biggest reason for going to college is to get an education.
UGA fans don’t seem to care about anything but football, and they don’t care if their players are enrolled in silly majors that no parents who are paying the bills would send their kids to UGA for. The very few football and basketball players who graduate have no job opportunities and end up unemployed or working in menial jobs that hardly require a college degree.
Georgia Tech is a real school with serious academic standards, and that includes scholarshipped athletes. UGA has a long history of being a party school, where parents send their kids for an easy degree, even if the degree itself is practically worthless.
Jan Kemp exposed the crap going on at UGA with athletes being enrolled in courses a ten-year-old kid could pass. That was almost three decades ago, and nothing has changed. If anything, the abuses are more blatant today. Way too many illiterate morons are being recruited, and the very high arrest rate shows clearly that Richt does not care if his players have any morals or self-discipline.
The bottom line is that most Tech fans have very good jobs and productive lives that don’t depend on Tech’s football record for their happiness in life. It would be great to beat UGA more often, but when you put scholar-athletes up against dummy-athletes, it’s usually no contest.
It’s pretty pathetic to see UGA fans who typically have never been within miles of a college classroom and who live or die with UGA’s weekly results on the football field.
So keep on posting your “30-24″ all you want, especially since you’re home with plenty of time on your hands. I wish you well, maybe you’ll get lucky and get your old job back at the Waffle House before your unemployment checks stop coming.
mike on lake hartwell
October 22nd, 2010
9:26 pm
I WAS ABLE TO “AUTO-TUNE” THE UGA-UK GAME ON DIRECTV
CH 790. THAT TELLS ME THAT I AM ABLE TO WATCH IT IF I PAY,
BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED TO “AUTO-TUNE” BEFORE, AND IF
THE CHANNEL WAS TOTALLY UNAVAILABLE, IT WOULD NOT
LET ME DO THAT. ANY THOUGHTS?
poopdawg
October 22nd, 2010
9:44 pm
Buzzzz, speaking of illiterate morons with nothing better to do than write a long piece of crap like that. Just keep changing your name ever time you post loser.
bitter buck belue
October 22nd, 2010
10:37 pm
anyone who trash talks dooly can go!@#$%%^&&^$ themselfs. dawds greatest coach rules, 1980 n.c. what u got trash talker, punk as—-
ALCS CHUMPS
October 22nd, 2010
11:16 pm
THE YANKEES LOSE, THE YANKEES LOSE, THUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU YANKEEEEEEEES LOSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, TAKE THAT SCHTICK TO THE OLD FOLKS HOME 72 YEAR OLD JOHN STERLING IT’S O V E R BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
DAWG555
October 22nd, 2010
11:59 pm
Why….oh, why do Tech fans keep posting on our blog? Is that what it takes for you to feel more important or worthy? Are you really THAT obsessed with us? In a million years…..I would never even go look at your blog, much less lower myself to post on it. Seriously….you are spending your so called “valuable” lives ON HERE! What an oxyMORON…..
dawgfaninlexky
October 23rd, 2010
12:30 am
georgia fan living here in lex…..this ky team is pumped and ready to go. Hartline will pick the d apart if they can’t get to him. Dawgs need to strike quickly and get crowd of game asap given cobbs comments this week.
SatillaDawg
October 23rd, 2010
1:08 am
Go Dawgs!
Kick Them Kitty Kats!
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
2:58 am
To Georgia tek fan
Bzzzzz zzz
Did I get this straight ? You come into the UGA Bulldogs’ forum to tell us that you DO NOT CARE that your entire Sports Program is a JOKE and always has been.
You talk about academics in our Sports Program, yet are unable to bring yourself to the reality that Georgia tek’s Sports Program features a horrible display of athletes representing your academics who have a far worse academic performance than those at UGA.
And, this is why you are in the UGA Bulldogs’ forum. I make a lot more than you do.
And, Georgia tek is NOT some Academic Powerhouse at
# 36 U.S. News and World Report Rankings
We’re # 36, We’re # 36, We’re # 36
No one EVER brags about being # 36 at NOTHING
By the way,
The University of Georgia is # 56
Please note that Georgia tek acceptance rate is 59 %
University of GA acceptance rate is only 54 %
You are NOT more exclusive than we are, you take anyone.
Your athletes drag down your academics, yet you are in here talking about athletes, when your athletes do FAR WORSE than UGA athletes in Academics in Football, in Men’s Basketball and in Women’s Basketball – the only sports you ever come in here to BRAG about your Academics compared to ours.
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
2:59 am
KY Fans,
Pretty incredible that you would come in here and talk to UGA Bulldogs’ fans in our blog about how IRRELEVANT GEORGIA IS IN FOOTBALL nationally and in The SEC and how your program is ON THE RISE and ours headed the other direction.
Simply amazing.
Staggering to note that your mind-blowing 2 wins in the last 4 games against us leaves you 2-7 vs CMR; absurd and inconceivable with that “Defense” you have that you really believe you are anything but a Gimmick Offense designed to be about mid-pack in the WAC.
In your BEST YEARS, you about 7-6 and lose your bowl game to a po-dunk high school club who also is 7-6.
Kentucky NEVER HAS BEEN RELEVANT in football.
Stick to talking about basketball.
For it is implausible to have to deal with the mind-boggling unremarkable football program you find so much time to come tell us how mind-blowing it is.
Prodigious phenomenal football program on the rise at Kentucky.
Hogwash babbling gibberish nonsense for a GARBAGE football program.
And, that is being kind.
IRRELEVANT B.Holes A Holes
Dawg droppings
October 23rd, 2010
3:28 am
They teach you at UGA how to do this and this goes on to prove you have to keep practicing to keep the legends growing….
UGA loses at Kentucky, Loses to UF, wins a meaningless game, loses to Auburn , and a toss up with GT. No bowl game…
http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/troubled-ex-uga-qb-688457.html
Dawg droppings
October 23rd, 2010
3:29 am
Bulldog Joe,
When was UGA relevant in the National Picture?…How about the SEC? 4 YEARS AND THAT YEAR THEY GOT POUNDED OUT OF THE PRESEASON No.1
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
3:34 am
All that may be true about The University of Georgia Football Program, and about The University of Georgia Football team this year too; however, we will STILL BE BETTER than what Kentucky does this year AGAIN.
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
3:35 am
This is because you have NO DEFENSE
StatesBurr
October 23rd, 2010
4:59 am
Bulldog Joe: To the KY fans… Once they lose a couple of players their team will go straight back to .500, this year is a fluke. The norm is 6-6, 7-5( on a good year). I swear there is nothing worse that sitting in a night game in Kentucky in the pouring rain in December… I can only imagine what its like for KY Fans and players…
StatesBurr
October 23rd, 2010
5:06 am
Buzzzzz: You have a superb grasp on sports history at UGA… Crazy for a guys that probably speaks Hindu and uses a Middle Eastern toilet….
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
7:59 am
30 % of Georgia tek is Asian men
29 % of Gergia tek is women of all races
dawgfan
October 23rd, 2010
8:16 am
Love how the AJC plasters the Qunicy Carter story all over the front page of their website like its some big breaking story. I’m sure they’re not trying to exploit anything or stir any pots. Yeah right. A couple of months ago a CURRENT Tech player roughs up his girlfriend and we barely heard a peep out of the AJC, despite the fact that its obviously a much more relevant story. Roberson paid it a little brief lip service and hasn’t brought it up since. There was no condescending column from Jeff Schultz. There was nothing. It was quickly swept under the rug and the AJC promptly went back to kissing CPJ’s fat arse.
Does anybody actually buy the AJC and read it anymore? I just come here to talk trash on the internet for free. What a joke.
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
8:24 am
Maybe you need to MAKE UP YOUR MIND ?
dawgfan
March 30th, 2010 10:27 pm
“I can’t wait for the spin on this one from the Bobo apologists. The guy is going in to year 4 as OC and Richt still needs to babysit him? The offense should be a well oiled machine at this point in Bobo’s tenure. It clearly isn’t.”
dawgfan
October 23rd, 2010
8:30 am
Bulldog Joe, what in the hell are you talking about?
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
8:41 am
dawgfan,
Sir, YOU posted that.
You ran in here this morning and say that the AJ-C just puts hell on Georgia. Back in March, you were in here saying that our Offense would NOT be ANY GOOD this year.
You ran in here this morning and say that posters just come in here to talk trash about UGA on the Internet for free.
That is what YOU DO
StatesBurr
October 23rd, 2010
8:46 am
75% of Tek Students get lost between the Aquarium, Coca~Cola, Grant (1/2)Field and The Farsity…. Thats about it…Oh wait..The 10th Street Bridge
dawgfan
October 23rd, 2010
8:49 am
You need professional help. I said that I come here to talk trash for free. I didn’t say anything about anyone else. The AJC does just put hell on Georgia, especially compared to their soft coverage of the nerds. Have you ever read Roberson’s blogs? I think it causes the guy physical pain to say anything negative about Tech. Meanwhile, its just doom and gloom for the Dawgs day after day. You don’t have to believe me. I don’t care.
As for Bobo, I still think he is a suspect play caller. A couple of wins over the worst teams in the SEC, while certainly better than the alternative, hasn’t changed that. There will still be games and moments this year where he grows impatient and starts swinging for the fences when we should be grinding things out and eating up clock. The guy is addicted to the big play and has no patience or foresight. Watch and see. My only hope is that we finally have a defense good enough to withstand the horrible positions he sometimes puts them in.
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
9:10 am
“The AJC does just put hell on Georgia”
Excuse me, that is EXACTLY what you do
PRECISELY
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
9:14 am
“its just doom and gloom for the Dawgs day after day.”
“I can’t wait for the spin on this one from the Bobo apologists. The guy is going in to year 4 as OC and Richt still needs to babysit him? The offense should be a well oiled machine at this point in Bobo’s tenure. It clearly isn’t.”
Which is it dawgfan, sir ?
They do ?
Or, is it you do ?
Or, is it you want THEM to do as you SAY ?
NOT, as YOU DO ?
You say I need help ?
Pardon me ?
Durango
October 23rd, 2010
9:16 am
AJC headline: ex-UGA QB arrested on battery charge.
Once a thug, always a thug.
Awful, Awful, Awful
October 23rd, 2010
9:26 am
All you Quincy Carter fans, I didn’t want you to miss the latest news about your hero of several years back…..
Troubled ex-UGA QB Quincy Carter arrested after allegedly beating up girlfriend
Seems the problem of recruiting the wrong kind of players has been going on at UGA for a long time……what say you CMR? Are you gonna be the one to change the culture at the “States Leading Football Factory”? I doubt it……you’re too weak.
dawgfan
October 23rd, 2010
9:27 am
I am a fan who is not at all objective, impartial, or unbiased. I don’t pretend to be anything else. I am not a journalist. I guess I expect a little more out of these AJC “journalists” than you do. The AJC simply exists to generate hits on its website these days. That’s its mission statement. The AJC knows that Techies are a sensitive bunch and won’t come here unless smoke is blown up their butts about how wonderful they are. And without sensitive Techies, who else is going to read about Georgia Tech football? The AJC knows that all the Atlanta transients love a juicy UGA scandal, even if said scandal involves the failure to pay a speeding ticket or shooting off fireworks. Just put up a headline entitled “Another UGA Player Arrested” in big bold letters on the front page and the mouses are clicking like crazy. It certainly isn’t alone in that regard. That’s why the WSJ is the only newspaper I pay actual money to read anymore. The rest is total garbage.
I digress. We’re 3-4 dude and we’ve looked absolutely god awful most of the season. What do you want from me? I think things are looking to improve but I’m still not sold on Bobo’s playcalling. I’m sorry. I think he gets a break because he’s a beloved alum who was one hell of a QB in his playing days. If he were of non-UGA lineage he’d be getting the same treatment Willie got. Anyway, we may see a little bit of Bobo’s impatience tonight. Kentucky can score some points and Bobo might get an itchy trigger finger. We’ll certainly see it against Auburn, Cam Newton, and their 40 ppg offense. Bobo will be going for the home run on every play. Heck, it may work, but chances are it won’t. That’s why they call them low percentage plays. I sometimes think Bobo would feel more at home in the WAC or Pac 10. They’d love him out there.
Thanks.
Bulldog Joe
October 23rd, 2010
9:33 am
dawgfan,
Really, I don’t want anything from.
You said I need professional help.
I merely point out the duplicity of your position.
It is not an honest point by you, sir, with all due respect.
One cannot have his cake and eat it too.
As for professional help, one would have to prove that the other actually is the 1 saying 1 position is dreadful, and then actually being the 1 who is doing exactly that, himself.
dawgfan
October 23rd, 2010
9:44 am
I did not understand a single word of that. The professional help comment was a joke. I don’t even know you. Almost everything I say on here to get people riled up is a joke, except my Bobo comments. I am dead serious when I say that he is not a championship caliber OC. His deficiencies were masked his 1st two years by Stafford and Moreno, two of the most talented offensive players to ever wear a Georgia uniform. And even with them there were moments when Bobo was clueless. Since they left we’ve been marred by excessive turnovers and an underachieving running game.
I’m never getting the past hour and thirteen minutes back am I?
DanDawg
October 23rd, 2010
9:56 am
UGA/KY Jelly game on DirecTv ordered for $24. You have to order ESPN Gameplan for one day. Go Dawgs! Pay back time.
cats18
October 23rd, 2010
10:00 am
russell,cobb and hartline r gonna kick some bulldog butt……p.s so is matthews
aarh
October 23rd, 2010
10:03 am
ATLdawg, ya dig?- The FL. game in Jackonsville is consered neutral, bc even though it takes place in Florida…it’s not The Gators on campus stadium, & the tickets are split 50/50. So, it’s not considered a FL. home game, & it’s not a true home field advantage for the Gators.
aarh
October 23rd, 2010
10:08 am
Awful, Awful, Awful- UGA has had a lot of arrests, I’ll admit, but Quincy Carter was WAY before CMR. So, I don’t see what that has to do w/ him. UGA isn’t the onle school w/ a lot of arrests either…you’ve heard of the Florida Gators? They’ve had a boatload of them as well…if you do your research.
The Exterminator
October 23rd, 2010
10:08 am
Dear bugs:
I have a novel idea. Instead of coming over here and posting stupid comments, why don’t you post something positive about your own alleged football program or the Almost Competitive Conference on your board?
Oh, yeah…I forgot….never mind.
8 out 9. Now bug off.
Sustained running game, ball security and good coverage on special teams a must tonight, but if so Dawgs roll. And this why I have Comcast.
GO DAWGS!!!!
Gator guy
October 23rd, 2010
10:25 am
da gators are getting ready to feast on doggie next week!
BBBieUgaVIII
October 23rd, 2010
10:30 am
Bulldog Joe
Have you been to sleep yet? You need to take a nap before you start drinking for the game tonight. You have been posting since 3 am. Go the F to bed.
» BBL: UK wants fast start; Georgia wants road win John Clay’s Sidelines
October 23rd, 2010
10:54 am
[...] Georgia is looking for its first road win of the season, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC. [...]
Pago Pago Dawg
October 23rd, 2010
11:05 am
The DAWGS don’t want the DUCKS for sure, wow.
Saint Jan
October 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
Attention everyone, especially dawgtards. We will now observe a moment of silence in memory of Saint Jan Kemp, who exposed the shameful practices at UGA that were initiated and carried out by slimeball Vince Dooley. Dooley’s image as a coach and a nice guy were forever shattered during the trial, not to mention the one million dollars that dawgtards had to pay Saint Jan. These practices of recruiting morons and coddling them for four years, them tossing them out like garbage, are still going on, but at least the world knows what’s happening in Athens now.
And now, the moment of silence…
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you, you may resume your normal activities now.
Mirk Racht
October 23rd, 2010
11:10 am
I’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the DUIs in the athletic office, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup, and on and on?
As disgraceful and humiliating as it is, I don’t see many alums and fans demanding an end to this sordid activity. It sets UGA apart as the kind of school most people abhor, and it’s become an embarrassment to the whole state of Georgia.
Will it never end? Apparently not while Mark Richt is at UGA. Richt is perhaps the biggest hypocrite in the United States. But even with all the cheating and lawlessness that he ignores, he still can’t win the SEC.
So you’re paying him to be BCS champions, but he can’t even win his SEC division. So why do you pay him millions of dollars a year?
Just asking.
A Big Dog
October 23rd, 2010
11:24 am
At least Qball won’t be there…the UGA savior is in jail again…hey, SWD Coach, is it still because of all us UGA fans are bigots that drove Q Carter to be the Loser he is!!!!!!!!!!
Let The Big Dawg Eat
October 23rd, 2010
12:24 pm
honestly, in the little of him i’ve seen… I like the freshman Ogletree better than Rambo at safety….
dawgfan
October 23rd, 2010
12:45 pm
Incidentally, they are giving out free AJC’s at the Wal Mart on Howell Mill if anybody has run out of toilet paper.
blunethost
October 23rd, 2010
12:49 pm
Very good blog.
JOKE UGA
October 23rd, 2010
1:46 pm
Is that John Rambo?
Blowbo
October 23rd, 2010
1:48 pm
Hey team, please don’t head butt me anymore in practice. I look like chitman. Let’s get ready for a loaded KY team. LMFAO! Let’s admit it, our entire team is a JOKE!
34 Cent
October 23rd, 2010
1:56 pm
You’ve got to hand it to Richt for leadership. Pool frolicks, zero tolerance for non-starter arrests and no-shaving reward program. This man is a genuis. Please extend his contract.