10/19/19 11:00am
#10 Georgia vs Kentucky Week #8 Prediction
By. Andrew Rodberg (twitter.com/AndrewRod2019)
TV/Radio: ESPN 6:00pm
ATHENS, GA— After suffering their first loss of 2019 (1st loss versus a SEC East opponent in 3 years) to South Carolina 20-17 last Saturday, the Dawgs look to bounce back and return to the win column vs Kentucky. With this week being homecoming week, the Dawgs have a lot a buzz around the stadium with the weather not looking to good for kickoff. Hoping for a win in front of their home crowd, the Dawgs have a few keys to victory:
Poise:
We’ve said this all year and last week it wasn’t achieved. Jake Fromm didn’t see the field, wasn’t working through his progressions and had some untimely mistakes that really caused the Dawgs momentum to be halted. He uncharacteristically had 3 interceptions, took a few sacks and overthrew quite a few receivers. It didn’t help that the WR core couldn’t separate from man to man coverage that ultimately cost the Dawgs the game. Jake must continue to improve on seeing the field, not overthrowing his wr’s and throw the ball away when there isn’t anyone open if the Dawgs want to remain in the running for the CFP.
Variety in the Run Game:
This topic may be an obvious one for fans for a 2nd week in a row. After yet another week where all James Coley dialed up was inside draw plays, the Dawgs were stopped and exposed. The Dawgs are too good in the running game to not dial up jet-sweeps, counters, and an occasional draw play to keep the defense guessing. Like we said last week… James Cook must be involved, the brings the Sony Michel factor to the run game that was missing after 2017. Something must change if the Dawgs want to continue to be effective in the run game.
Defense:
Following a suspect 1st half vs South Carolina where the Dawgs gave up quite a few passing yards, they clamped down in the second half and made it a game. With the Dawgs being the only team in all of college to not allow a rushing TD. (knock on wood) they will look to keep that a trend as this game gets underway. With the weather looking to be very cold and rainy, the Dawgs must look for Kentucky to be a run first team since the passing game will be hard to maintain. These types of games are the ones the Dawgs normally take advantage of and flex their muscles at with their NCAA leading OL.
