Dawgs Look to Bounce Back Against Kentucky
Both teams are looking to get their mojo back after coming off losses in their previous games
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Nick Saban remained a perfect 22-0 against former assistants as the Crimson Tide defeated Georgia 41-24 on October 17. Georgia has struggled in recent years against their cross-state rivals with Alabama emerging victorious in every meeting between the two powerhouses dating back to 2008. However, the loss to Alabama does not spell the end of Georgia's 2020 campaign. The Dawgs fell back to number five in the AP top 25 poll, but have plenty of season remaining to make a push for the College Football Playoff. The remainder of Georgia's schedule pits them exclusively against SEC teams, with all but one of those games being against SEC East opponents. To keep their CFB Playoff hopes alive the Dawgs need to win out and secure a spot in the SEC Championship where they'll likely get a rematch against Coach Saban and the Tide.
This Saturday, The Dawgs will travel to Lexington to take on Kentucky and defend their spot atop the SEC East standings. In Theory, Kirby Smart's squad should handle to the 2-3 Wildcats who have dropped games to Auburn, Ole Miss, and Missouri. Despite their losses, Kentucky easily handled Mississippi State 24-2 and pulled off the upset against a Tennessee team that was ranked top 25 at the time. Another factor to consider is Georgia's historically poor performance in noontime kickoffs in the Kirby Smart era. The Bulldogs are 2-3 under Smart's tenure in games slotted at 12:00 PM. Vegas currently has the Bulldogs as 15-point favorites over Kentucky, which should provide some reassurance to the Georgia faithful.
The Bulldogs find themselves in a position that parallels the Jacob Eason vs. Jake Fromm situation a few years back. Eason had played well for Georgia before suffering a knee injury in the first game of the 2017 season, opening the door for Fromm to take over the starting job. Once getting ahold of the reigns, Fromm would not relinquish his starting role forcing Eason to transfer to Washington. JT Daniels transferred to Georgia from USC as a highly touted Quarterback and was expected to see significant playing time. Despite Daniels receiving medical clearance, junior play-caller Stetson Bennett has assumed the starting role for Georgia. Though Bennett's three interceptions against Alabama left much to be desired. Will Georgia rally behind Bennett in pursuit of an SEC Championship, or will Kirby Smart begin exploring his options under center? Georgia's quarterback situation will be a popular narrative this college football season. Sports analysts, Georgia fans, opposing teams, and the entire world of college football will be keeping a close eye on the quarterback situation in Athens. By returning to Athens victorious, combined with a strong performance on the field, Bennett could further solidify his role as the starter and cast off any doubts in his abilities as Georgia sets their sights on the SEC title game.