LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Let’s get this out of the way first. Georgia has won 15 straight games against Kentucky. That’s the second-longest streak the program has ever had against any team. The longest streak in program history is a 22-game win streak against Mercer, and it began in 1892.
So, the Wildcats are going against history when they take the field between the hedges in Athens on Saturday. Their last win there was their last win in the series, under the lights in 2009. After that win, Georgia won 26 night games in a row at home, a streak that didn’t end until last week, when it fell to Alabama.
Consequently, this is the first time since 2000 that the Bulldogs won’t be facing Kentucky as an unbeaten team. Maybe things are looking up for the Wildcats.
Or maybe they aren’t. Kentucky is coming off a 35-13 loss at South Carolina, and is riding a seven-game losing streak in the SEC.
This might not be the right one to get well. But let’s take a look at the details, anyway:
The Time
Saturday, Oct. 4, noon ET, Sanford Stadium (93,033), Athens, Ga.
How to Watch / Listen
TV: ABC (Joe Tessitore play-by-play, Jesse Palmer analyst, Katie George sideline). Streaming: ESPN app.
Radio: UK Sports Network, WHAS-840 in Louisville (Tom Leach play-by-play, Jeff Piecoro analyst, Dick Gabriel sideline). Streaming audio: UKAthletics.com or iHeart Radio app. Satellite radio: SiriusXM 374.
The Line
Spread: Georgia is favored by 20.5 points. Over/under: 48.5
Notes: Georgia has gone 8-7 against the spread in its 15-game winning streak over Kentucky, but has covered in just one of the past six meetings (2023). The under has hit in five of the past six meetings. Georgia is winless against the spread this season.
The Coaches
Georgia: Kirby Smart (108-20 in his 10th season at Georgia and overall). Record vs. Kentucky: 9-0.
Kentucky: Mark Stoops (79-75 on field in his 13th season at Kentucky and overall). Record vs. Georgia: 0-12.
The Series
Overall: Georgia leads 64-12-2. In Athens: Georgia leads 32-4-2. Last meeting: Georgia won 13-12 in Lexington in 2024. Last in Athens: Georgia won 51-13 in 2023.
The Records
Kentucky: 2-2 overall, 0-2 in the SEC, coming off a 35-13 loss at South Carolina
Georgia: 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the SEC, coming off a 24-21 home loss to Alabama.
Players to Watch
Kentucky
Quarterback Cutter Boley, a redshirt freshman will get his second SEC start and will be tasked with taking better care of the ball than he did in a three-interception effort last week at South Carolina. Running back Seth McGowan is second in the SEC and 19th in the nation in rushing yards per game (96.8). He has seven touchdowns. Linebacker Alex Afari Jr.ranks second in the SEC in tackles with 7.8 stops per game. Safety Ty Bryant has two interceptions and linebacker Steven Soles has two caused fumbles, each tying for the SEC lead in those categories.
Georgia
In his first road start, redshirt junior QB Gunner Stockton led a 44-41 overtime win over No. 15 Tennessee in front of 101,915. He has not thrown an interception in 109 attempts this season while completing 69.8 percent of his passes and throwing for five touchdowns. RB Nate Frazier is the top returning ball-carrier and has started all four games, rushing for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries. RB Chauncey Bowens is coming off a breakout performance against Alabama, rushing for a career best 119 yards on 12 carries, including a 43-yard run. Wideouts Colbie Young and Zachariah Branch led the receiving corps. Linebackers CJ Allen (30 total tackles) and Raylen Wilson (29) are the team’s top tacklers.
Quick Sideline Storylines
BOUNCING BACK: Georgia is 16-3 after a loss under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs haven’t lost back-to-back games in the regular season since 2016.
A LONG TIME RUNNING: McGowan is the first UK running back since George Adams in 1984 to start a season with four straight games of at least 75 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown in each game.
PASSING FAD: Kentucky has struggled through the air this season, passing for just 159 yards per game. Only North Carolina and Iowa average fewer. The Wildcats have completed just 50 percent of their passes (48 of 96), the worst percentage in the Power 4, and 134th out of 136 FBS teams.
HOMECOMING GAME: Georgia has designated Saturday its Homecoming game. The Bulldogs are 82-18-2 on Homecoming. Kentucky last served as a Homecoming foe in 2021 with Georgia winning 30-13. The Bulldogs have won eight straight Homecoming games.
RANKED OPPONENTS: Kentucky has played 276 ranked teams in the Associated Press poll in its history, holding an on-field record of 53-218-5 in those games. The Wildcats have gone 9-13 on field against their past 22 ranked opponents.
TURNOVER TIME: Kentucky has nabbed an interception on its opponent’s first possession in two of its four games this season. The Wildcats have forced eight turnovers this season and have forced at least one turnover in 12 of their past 13 games.
The Quote
“Georgia coming off a loss, I'm sure they'll be in a bad mood, like our players are.”
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops
The Pick
Georgia 34, Kentucky 13
I know Kentucky plays well against Georgia generally. But I think Georgia players have been getting their butts kicked all week after last week’s loss to Alabama, and I really don’t know how a one-dimensional Kentucky team with a young quarterback is going to stay in it against Georgia.
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