Open The Paddock

FIVE KEYS PG. 18 | DAWG BONES PG. 20 | A VIEW FROM ... LEXINGTON PG. 21
SPORTS
LADD MCCONKEY TAKES IT
TO THE HOUSE!
PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE
GEORGIA VS KENTUCKY
GAME TIME: 3:30 P.M. EST
CHANNEL: CBS
GEORGIA VS KENTUCKY
BY: JEFF DANTZLER
Top-ranked Georgia battles Kentucky Saturday afternoon in
Lexington at Commonwealth Stadium/Kroger Field, and the
forecast is calling for cold temperatures.
The reigning national champion Bulldogs head in with a record
of 10-0, and 7-0 in league play, clinching the Southeastern
Conference East Division crown for the fifth time in the last six
seasons with a 45-19 victory over Mississippi State this past
weekend in Starkville. Georgia has won 28 of the past 29 games
dating back to the final four games of the 2020 campaign. For
the first time in program history, the Bulldogs are off to a 10-0 in
back to back years.
Kentucky heads into the game with a record of 6-4, 3-4 in
Southeastern Conference play. The Wildcats were stunned by
Vanderbilt 24-21 this past Saturday, as the Commodores broke a
26-game SEC losing streak. Kentucky, which has signature wins
over both Florida and Mississippi State this season, will aim for
the major upset of the Bulldogs, as they try to bounce back from
the tough loss to Vandy.
Georgia has won 12 straight in the series, defeating Kentucky
every year since 2010. The Wildcats last win over the Bulldogs
came in Athens in 2009. The last time Kentucky beat Georgia in
Lexington was 2006.
The Wildcats would like to pull out some of that upset mojo.
The Bulldogs most heartbreaking loss to Kentucky ever came
in 1988, as Kentucky cost Georgia a share of the SEC title in the
final season of legendary hall of fame coach Vince Dooley. When
it comes to beating title contenders, the Wildcats upended
eventual national champion LSU in 2007.
For the Bulldogs to avoid the upset, to “remain the hunter,”
under head coach Kirby Smart’s watch, Georgia must clean up
a turnover problem. Over the last three games, a 42-20 win
over Florida, 27-13 topping of Tennessee, and the 26-point
triumph over Mississippi State, the Bulldogs have a cumulative
seven turnovers, while coming up with two. Both against the
Volunteers.
That’s something Georgia must clean up if these Bulldogs
are to arrive at the ultimate destination. These Bulldogs have
clinched the berth for the SEC title tilt in Atlanta. Then it’s the
Yellow Jackets for the state championship. But Smart and the
veteran leadership on this team is preaching no lookahead.
There are bigger proverbial fish to fry. A slip-up would mar
Georgia’s drive for the national championship. It’s certainly
been clear that these Bulldogs of 2022 are out to make their
own history.
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 13 ISSUE THIRTEEN • KENTUCKY