If, as I just posted, the Kentucky, team of destiny thing makes for a nervous blogger, there is a countervailing consideration that gives me some comfort.
Georgia may be young and Kentucky may be experienced, but that only goes so far, at least when it comes to playing in a game with huge stakes. Nobody on the Kentucky sideline has been in a game with that kind of pressure on the line. Georgia, on the other hand, can fall back on plenty of first hand experience with those kinds of games from the 2017 season (not to mention, sadly, the inevitable result of what happens when you don’t show up ready to play against a good team on the road).
Maybe this is all off base and the ‘Cats will come out well prepared to take a punch and roll with it. But I sure want to see it happen before I give ’em credit for it.
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Ultimately, will they pucker? And: will Georgia respond on the road (against a good team)?
At least we know one thing: the second best team in the east is not S Carolina, Mizzou, or Florida.
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Young, lean, and hungry.
Speed kills.
Hush the crowd, except for that little bunch over in the corner.
Don’t panic if you fall behind early.
Spread their defense across the field. Make them run a lot on plays.
Missouri outlier. Remember that is a team that has a Dooley calling plays.
Florida outlier. Remember that is a team that is undefeated in their own minds, has a DC named Grantham, and has a HC styled like a coach in the West named Gus.
Can the young oline produce two RBs with over 100 yards each in a game.
Snell talked a lot to the Dawg defense last year in Athens. Will there be echoes?
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If Tim Couch was in blue Saturday, I might be worried about a shootout. Florida didn’t have a QB and neither does Kentucky. We have a lot of weapons and they won’t be able to keep up.
Also, coming off their “big win” reminds me of 2008 when we beat a mediocre Arizona State team and played a “big game” the next week. How’d that work out for us?
Something completely flukey and several turnovers is the only way this game is close.
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I believe we’ll see the Dawgs play their best game yet.
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Kentucky definitely puckers. Anyone remember the game against UT in 2007?
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Unfortunately, yes. I also remember when UGA played UT in 2007. I’ve learnt not to count my chickens before I scramble my eggs.
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KY doesn’t know how to play in a game like this. This team has never experienced the gravity that comes with it. The Dawgs know how because they have experienced it with the division game, the Conference championship, and National Playoff! Let’s throw the Rose Bowl in there too because, face it, that was a huge game! So, they bring a wealth of experience to this game and KY brings nothing. Their stadium isn’t that large and the Dawgs have played in larger, and under more pressure than this game, so I don’t think that will be a problem. I think they will bring it and KY may run around all speedy and shit, but the Dawgs will win out with Fromm being his stellar self and the defense will wear their blue asses out. GO DAWGS!
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They play good defense and special teams and they run the ball. That’s a recipe for success, even when the game has a lot on the line. For Georgia to win, they need to force Kentucky into passing situations where Georgia has a decided advantage against their offense. They can do that by stopping the run or they can do it by scoring every time they get the ball and make Kentucky play in a shootout. Ideally, Georgia needs some of both. If they can get a few stops and score a few touchdowns early, Kentucky would find it very difficult to keep up on the scoreboard. If Georgia stumbles around for a half on offense or turns the ball over or has a bust on special teams, it won’t matter how experienced Georgia is or Kentucky isn’t.
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Good post … we cannot let them hangs around. Love Hot Rod, but no field goals on Saturday.
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Your first sentence, in other words, a Dooley UGA team.
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I don’t think the mental advantage will be a deciding factor in this game UK has maturely done what is needed to win and it is in their backyard. UGA knows what it is to play in a big 3:30 game, the bulk of the team even if they didn’t play in the SECCG or playoff knows the goal.
I simply believe UGA has better Jimmy’s and Joe’s with better coaches which in the end will decide the game. Yes it maybe a bit closer than if UGA had a cupcake between the WLOCP and UK but still a W. The W is all that matters 1 point or 30, the W continues to advance towards the current goal of a 1 loss SEC Champ which will be all that is needed to make the playoff.
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The difference being that we’ve already played a game where we thought we could just continue rolling our helmets out and collecting wins, but had a rude awakening. Kentucky is poised to get that lesson. Thankfully, we already have.
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The example above very much applies the Georgia offense that won despite being consistently inconsistent for most of the season. Even against Florida we weren’t exactly blowing up and down the field.
If the players do not take KY seriously we are going to be in a dogfight.
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Kentucky has some good experienced players, but do they have depth? The game plan should be the same as it has been for every game except LSU. RTDB, lean on the defense, and wear them down. Be opportunistic in the passing game and make them earn their points the hard way. It is a formula that has led to 7 wins by 2+TDs in each game it was tried this season. The one time we didn’t use that formula, LSU used it to beat us by 20.
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Yes, Senator, our guys have responded to pressure. Kentucky has never trailed the number two team in the country by 17 with 15 seconds left in the half and come back to score a tying TD with 40 seconds left and win in OT.
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That ass-whipping we got at LSU served us well last weekend, and I think it will do the same on Saturday. I think the Dawgs don’t panic and win it late.
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