What we know heading into Kentucky vs. Georgia

Kentucky is 5-0 and looking for its second 6-0 start in the last three seasons. Georgia is 5-0 and has not lost a regular-season game since 2020. A massive game in the SEC East race is getting a prime-time window on ESPN.

Mark Stoops is looking for his first head-to-head win over Georgia. Kentucky is looking for its first win in Athens since 2009. The ranked vs. ranked matchup has generated plenty of preseason buzz. Many believe that a Georgia blowout could occur despite Kentucky consistently overachieving spread expectations in this game.

For the first time since 2016, Kentucky enters the contest with Georgia with some legitimate on-paper advantages. Will that be enough to pull off the biggest win of the Stoops era? Only time will tell.

Before toe meets leather at Sanford Stadium, let’s take a step back and look at what we learned this week in the lead-up to this big game.

Kentucky’s passing game must deliver

Kentucky is fresh off a dominant rushing performance when redshirt senior tailback Ray Davis rushed for 280 yards and scored four total touchdowns. Liam Coen‘s offense averaged over nine yards per rush against a Florida run defense that had been one of the best in college football.

The Wildcats will attempt to run the football against Georgia and will likely pop a big run or two. However, the offense cannot be run only on Saturday night at Sanford Stadium. Last weekend, Kentucky’s passing offense produced zero explosive plays in 20 snaps. That must change quickly.

Kentucky’s defense has played Georgia well in recent meetings, but Kentucky has not scored more than 17 points in this series since 2016. That has to change. The Wildcats will need the passing game to deliver in Week 6.

The offense needs a good game from super senior quarterback Devin Leary. On the perimeter, Barion Brown, Dane Key, and Tayvion Robinson must win in isolation.

Georgia has a money down advantage

Georgia has one significant advantage over Kentucky and that’s not related to recruiting. The Bulldogs have been cash on the money downs, and Kentucky has not.

Kentucky’s third/fourth down efficiency on offense ranks No. 85 and will be going against a top-10 third/fourth down Georgia defense. On the other side, Georgia is No. 9 in third/fourth down efficiency. The Bulldogs will be facing a Kentucky defense that ranks No. 86 on money downs.

Georgia is an efficiency-first offense that stays ahead of the schedule. Kentucky’s defense must find a way to create third downs and then win in short and medium situations. Kentucky is an explosive-first offense that has a hard time creating third-and-short situations. The Wildcats will have to win in some third-and-long situations against a stellar Georgia passing defense.

The Bulldogs have the advantage on third downs. Kentucky must find a way to close the gap on Saturday. The Wildcats are likely not going to win this situational battle on Saturday night, but they can’t get dominated.

Cats must stay aggressive

Two years ago, Kentucky entered a similar situation at Kroger Field. The Wildcats were undefeated and ranked following multiple SEC victories. Georgia was ranked No. 1, and first place in the SEC East was on the line in Athens.

Going up against a defense that was littered with first-round draft picks, Liam Coen believes that Kentucky gave Georgia too much respect in a big-boy football matchup.

“I remember walking out of that game saying ‘man, the first 20 plays of the game I didn’t call aggressive enough’. Then we got a little bit more aggressive and were able to move the football and do some things,” Coen told reporters on Tuesday. “I think it’s definitely a balance and fine line, but we need to be aggressive. We need to give our kids an opportunity and a chance to go compete.”

To start SEC games, Kentucky is outscoring foes 47-0. Georgia has fallen behind early against both Auburn and South Carolina. Kentucky’s game script will require a fast start. Look for the Wildcats to come out swinging in the first few possessions.