Bulldogs Big Favorites In SEC Battle Of Unbeatens

Georgia (6-0 SU, 5-1 ATS) and Kentucky (6-0, 5-1) are the last two unbeaten teams in the SEC, but that’s where the similarities end — at least according to the oddsmakers. The Bulldogs opened as four-touchdown favorites to beat Kentucky for the 12th straight time.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Even with Kentucky off to its first 6-0 start in more than 70 years, the Wildcats aren’t being given much of a chance against the top-ranked Bulldogs. Georgia opened as a 26-point favorite, although that number had moved down to 22.5 by the time of writing Sunday night.

Kentucky News & Notes

Going into last weekend’s clash with LSU, Wildcats fans might have been concerned about an offense that had scored a combined 36 points in tight victories over South Carolina and Florida. However, those fears were put to rest with a 42-point explosion against LSU as Kentucky ran for 330 yards and scored touchdowns on all five of its red-zone trips.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. did a lot of the Wildcats’ damage on the ground, collecting 147 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries. Quarterback Will Levis added a pair of touchdown runs and was also extremely efficient through the air, with three of his 14 completions going for majors.

Points should be much harder to come by against Georgia, but history suggests the Wildcats defense should also be ready to do its part. Kentucky has gone UNDER in five of its last six road games, in six of its last seven as a road underdog, and in 21 of its last 30 in conference play.

Georgia News & Notes

Six games into the season, the Bulldogs have allowed just two offensive touchdowns — both of them coming when Georgia was leading by 21 points or more. One of those majors came in last week’s 34-10 victory over Auburn, a game the Dawgs trailed 3-0 early before seizing control with 24 consecutive points.

Stetson Bennett IV made his third start of the season in place of top quarterback J.T. Daniels, who sat out the contest with a grade 1 lat sprain. “It’s a next-man-up mentality,” coach Kirby Smart told the Associated Press about Georgia’s approach on offense these days. “We’ve got a lot of guys hurt and beat up, including the quarterback.”

Of course, the Bulldogs don’t need to put up many points as long as their defense continues to play at a historic level. Georgia enters the week having allowed the fewest total yards, rushing yards and points per game in the nation, and it is also fourth in the FBS against the run.

How Kentucky Will Cover

Nobody’s been able to solve this Georgia defense, and it seems unlikely that the Wildcats will be able to put up many points either. Kentucky’s best shot at the cover is to keep Georgia’s offense in check, something it has been able to do in recent meetings. The Bulldogs have scored 27 or less in four of the last six matchups.

How Georgia Will Cover

The Bulldogs defense gets the bulk of the attention, but Georgia’s offense has been pretty consistent too. The Bulldogs rank 12th in the FBS in points per game and have scored at least 34 points in each of their last five.

Computer Pick: Georgia -22.5

For more NCAAF predictions, visit our NCAAF Computer Picks page.