In Lexington, Kentucky, the Kentucky Wildcats will host the No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs as part of college football's Week 3.
The Bulldogs have lived up to their rank, outscoring their opposition 82-6 so far this season.
However, this matchup will be their first true road test, and it comes against a Kentucky team looking to bounce back after a rough loss to South Carolina.
The Wildcats struggled through the air on both sides of the ball, and that will need to be corrected if they want to have a chance to hang around in this one.
So, in a matchup that's anticipated to be lopsided, what angle should you take? Dive in to find out my Georgia vs. Kentucky prediction and pick.
No matter what game you're looking for, Action Network goes deep on ALL the key matchups in College Football at their NCAAF betting hub, where you'll find the odds, picks and predictions you need to win!
My Georgia vs Kentucky best bet is on the over with the best line currently available at BetMGM, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Saturday, Sept. 14
7:30 p.m. ET
ABC
Georgia Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-24 -110 |
45 -110 / -110 |
-3600 |
Kentucky Odds | ||
---|---|---|
Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+24 -110 |
45 -110 / -110 |
+1500 |
Odds via DraftKingsd. Get up-to-the-minute NCAAF odds here.
During Georgia's years of dominance, its calling card has been its defense. But this year, its offense has become a real problem for opposing defenses.
The development of quarterback Carson Beck has taken the Georgia offense to the next level. Beck currently holds the fourth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy as he's gotten off to a tremendous start.
He'll come into this matchup having completed nearly 71% of his passes while averaging nine yards per completion. He's also producing with an uptick in passing volume this season as the Bulldogs have thrown the ball nearly 56% of the time.
This is all bad news for a Kentucky defense that was torched by a South Carolina offense known for having a mobile quarterback. After last week, the Wildcats rank 113th in opponent completion percentage and 104th in yards per pass allowed.
It doesn't stop there for Georgia as it features one of the deepest running back rooms in the country that's combined to average 6.3 yards per carry. While the Wildcats have held their opposition to just 1.8 yards per carry thus far, it's clear Georgia's rushing attack is a step above.
Georgia should have little issue moving the ball in this one, and it has the potential to put up points in a hurry if Beck remains efficient through the air.
On the other hand, the Wildcats will need to reinvent themselves if they want to move the ball against this Georgia defense. Kentucky has run the ball nearly 64% of the time this season, but the matchup and game script don't call for that to be an effective game plan.
The Bulldogs have held their opponents to just two yards per carry, which ranks 13th in the country.
Additionally, Kentucky will likely be playing from behind, which puts the game in the hands of quarterback Brock Vandagriff. Vandagriff, a former Georgia Bulldog, has yet to look polished through the air as he ranks 109th in completion percentage and 91st in yards per completion.
However, if you're going to move the ball on the Bulldogs, taking what you can get through the air is the way to do it. (Georgia is 71st in completion percentage allowed.)
The question that remains is whether Vandagriff will have the time to complete anything but check downs. The Wildcats are 116th in sack rate allowed, and the Bulldogs have allowed just 4.9 yards per completion.
Kentucky's best shot to keep the chains moving in this one is to get the ball out of Vanagriff's hands fast. While that may be the game plan, we may not see the Wildcats get on the board until this one is out of reach.
Regardless, any production from the Wildcats helps our angle.
The total in this matchup has fallen, and rightfully so. Kentucky is coming off a horrific offensive performance and figures to have a ton of trouble scoring against Georgia.
The market seems to think Kentucky will get on the board, as its team total of 9.5 is juiced to the over. If the Wildcats can hit the 10-point mark, that will be fantastic, because Georgia has the potential to cover this over by itself.
We should see the Bulldogs move the ball through the air early and often, creating a wide margin. However, the scoring may not stop later in the game as their second unit is very talented offensively.
Buy the dip and take the over in what should be a blowout victory for Georgia.
Pick: Over 45.5 (Play to 47.5)
Location: | Kroger Field |
Date: | Saturday, Sept. 14 |
Kickoff Time: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
TV / Streaming: | ABC |
Doug is a college football, college basketball and MLB contributor at the Action Network. He produces content centered around actionable advice with the goal of helping readers become better bettors. He studied journalism at Rutgers and has previously covered the New York Mets, Indianapolis Colts, and Mid-Atlantic region for Perfect Game.
Follow Doug Ziefel @DougZiefel on Twitter/X.
Our Bark Bets sports betting newsletter has the news, picks and analysis smart bettors are using to win. Sign up today!
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!