Georgia at Kentucky: Preview and Predictions

The Dawgs play their final SEC game against the 6-4 Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington on Saturday. With the SEC East already locked up by Georgia and Kentucky drastically underperforming all season, this game doesn’t have nearly the appeal that it held at the beginning of the year. The Wildcats are a physically tough team, and have limited Georgia teams production for years with tough defense and a strong run game. That could happen again this year. Here’s why it won’t. 

Outlook for the Wildcats

Bob Stoops’ career at UK has been impressive. He continues to put a some talent in the NFL while winning those 7-9 games to keep a basketball school happy. He’s got a good gig in Lexington. He even has a QB that many are saying will be a top 10 pick in the NFL draft next year. Will Levis has all the physical attributes that an NFL team would want. At 6’3, 230 lbs, Levis is a big, physical runner. He has enough size and athleticism to make teams pay with mobility. Yet, his arm is what garners the most attention. He can sling it with the best of them, and has thrown for over 2000 yards and 16 touchdowns this year.

Paired with RB Chris Rodriguez Jr, the Cats share two of the most talented skill players in the SEC. Rodriguez missed several games due to suspension earlier in the year for violating team rules. In his 5th year, he has averaged 8.2 YPC this season and 6.3 for his career. Rodriguez is a physically punishing runner. Georgia will feel it every time they bring him down in this game. 

Despite the talent of these two players, UGA will likely shut down their offense during the game. UK has one of, if not the worst, offensive lines in the SEC. They have given up nearly 4 sacks a game despite Levis’ athletic ability. Yeah, they can’t block anyone. Jalen Carter and company are going to have a field day for the Bulldogs.

No Love for Levis

Levis also doesn’t take care of the football. For the last two years, he has only managed around a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio. His 16 touchdowns this year are paired with 9 interceptions. Against SEC opponents, Levis has thrown 7 touchdowns and 6 picks this year. He is full of competitive fire, but it drives him to force throws into windows he shouldn’t. 

Alontae Taylor reads Will Levis from depth. A flat-footed break to take this interception to the crib!

Levis continued to stare down Robinson this game and it bit him here.

Great play by Taylor. Nickel, Outside, & Safety versatility. #WatchTheTape pic.twitter.com/Y9Srivs7MT

— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) March 26, 2022

You know who Levis reminds me of? Sam Darnold. Experts lauded him as a future NFL star, but when I watched him play at USC he constantly turned the ball over. I didn’t get it. I don’t get it with Levis either, who is over-hyped in the same way. Perhaps with a better O-line and some actual talent on the perimeter to throw to, he can excel. Even then, I don’t buy it. “Will Levis sucks,” is nearly a weekly text I send to my college football loving cousin. Sorry, Will. Hope your NFL career is better than Darnod’s. 

Georgia Injury Updates

Georgia received some good news this week that DB Javon Bullard only suffered a contusion in his leg last week. Not sure if he’ll be ready to go this week, but more importantly is that his injury is not severe. Plus, RT Amarius Mims should be back in action this week as well. I don’t think we’ll see AD Mitchell yet. 

Prediction

Kirby Smart has a lot of respect for Stoops and his program. Kentucky has given Georgia fits over the years, and their defense consistently limits the Dawg offense. I don’t think that happens this year. Mississippi State limited the Dawg running game last week, and Georgia still was able to move the ball up and down the field. That hasn’t happened under Smart any year before. The spread in this game is 22. Unless the Dawgs cough up the football even more than usual, I think they cover. Kentucky’s best hope is that Georgia doesn’t want to play in 30 degree weather nor do they want to tackle Rodriguez. I think the Dawgs make some mistakes, but stay locked in this game. They win comfortably as the Cats turn the ball over twice on an INT and a fumble. Will Levis sucks. Dawgs win 41-13.