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The Kentucky Wildcats are 6-0 in football. And they got there by beating South Carolina, Florida, and LSU in three consecutive weeks.
If you had told me that nine years when Stoops took the job, I would have told you to wake up from your deep sleep.
But alas, we’re here, and it’s glorious.
Now, the ultimate test is upon the Wildcats. They travel to Athens next week for a showdown with the No. 1 team in the country, the Georgia Bulldogs, for first place in not only the SEC East, but the SEC as a whole.
Adding to the excitement, ESPN College GameDay and SEC Nation (essentially the SEC Network’s version of GameDay) will both be at Athens, so we’ll be seeing plenty of pregame coverage on ESPN and the SEC Network. Read more about those shows here.
Georgia has looked pretty invincible through the first six games of the season, with their defense only allowing 26 points. Their defense is statistically the best defense in the country, and it shows. They have yet to allow more than 13 points in a game, while totaling 22 sacks and eight interceptions.
The Dawgs are giving up just 5.5 points per game, obviously the best in the country.
Their offense is no slouch either, averaging 39.8 points per game. Georgia hosts a pretty balanced rushing attack with Zamir White (354 yards rushing), James Cook (245 yards rushing), Kendall Milton (210 yards rushing), and Kenny McIntosh (127 yards rushing).
Starter JT Daniels has been sidelined with an injury, so Kentucky could face Stetson Bennett for the second straight season. Bennett went 9/13 for 131 yards and two interceptions last season against Kentucky.
This season, Bennett has thrown for 746 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. Against Auburn, Bennett threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
If Kentucky wants to have a shot at the upset, the defense needs to step up and go toe-to-toe with Georgia’s defense. While the Kentucky offense is capable of putting up points, Dan Lanning’s defense has show they are more than capable of shutting down any and every offense they play.
Kentucky’s defense is averaging a very respectable 17.5 points per game, but also allowing 305 yards per game compared to Georgia’s 201.2 yards allowed per game.
On the offensive side for Kentucky, they are averaging 31 points per game, along with 410 yards per game, a much-improved stat from this time last year. Will Levis is throwing for 197 yards, and the running back corps is rushing for 212 yards per game. Georgia is only allowing 64.2 rush yards per game.
Kentucky ranks #11 in the newest coaches poll, while Georgia comes in at #1. Kentucky just misses out on the top 10, ruining what would have been the second top-10 matchup between Georgia and Kentucky in three years.
Enjoy the ride, BBN.
Game: No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in Week 7
Location: Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia
Time: 3:30 pm ET on Oct. 16
TV Channel: The game will get the prime CBS slot on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET.
Online Stream: CBS Sports online and the CBS Sports mobile app.
Radio: UK Sports Network
Odds: Georgia opened as a 22.5-point favorite. The Dawgs have a 95.4 percent chance to win according to ESPN’s matchup predictor.
Prediction: TeamRankings is projecting a 35-10 win for Georgia.