Looking to maintain its undefeated document and No.1 rating intact, Georgia hits the street when it faces SEC East foe Kentucky within the SEC on CBS Game of the Week on Saturday. The Bulldogs are coming off of a 45-19 win over Mississippi State by which is pulled away within the second half, whereas Kentucky suffered a defeat by the hands of Vanderbilt final week — a loss which broke the Commodores’ 26-game SEC shedding streak. 

The massive storyline is how Georgia will react to its second straight street sport towards a division opponent that’s determined for a win. The Wildcats had been ranked as excessive as No. 7 within the nation however have misplaced 4 of their final six video games and struggled on either side of the ball. A win over Georgia would give the fan base and administration some excellent news to fall again on after flirting with the final word success throughout the first month of the season.

What must you anticipate Saturday afternoon? Let’s break down the sport and make picks straight up and towards the unfold.

How to observe Georgia vs. Kentucky stay

Date: Saturday, Nov. 19 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Kroger Field — Lexington, Kentucky
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)

Georgia vs. Kentucky: Need to know

Eyes on Rodriguez: Kentucky star operating again Chris Rodriguez Jr. has topped the 100-yard mark on the bottom in 4 of his final 5 video games whereas offering a bit little bit of stability to a Kentucky offense that severely lacked that stability early within the season. He will take a look at the power and depth of a Georgia protection that has established itself as the most effective within the nation.

“He seeks and cherishes contact,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart mentioned. “And it’s that time of year where you watch defenses across the country and people turn down contact. They turn down hits. We make a point to try to show it to our guys that as the year goes, tackling gets worse and worse and worse. Are we going to be bit by that contagious bug of lack of a willingness to thud and tackle people, especially a guy that loves it. I mean, he seeks it. He wants to hit you. One of the most physical runners I’ve seen, and it just seems like Kentucky always has ‘that’ guy.”

It’s going to be a tall order for Kentucky to upset Georgia. If Rodriguez can discover success towards the group, the Wildcats not less than have an opportunity. 

Where is AD Mitchell?: The Georgia extensive receiver who had the game-tying landing catch within the nationwide title sport win over Alabama has largely been lacking in motion this 12 months. He had 5 catches for 69 yards and one landing over the primary two video games of the season however has been out with an ankle harm since. It does not sound like Mitchell shall be out there towards the Wildcats. 

“He wants to get back. He works really hard at it,” Smart mentioned on Monday. “He was better last week than he’s been every week previous. He actually got to do individual drills last week and did some things. But he’s still not, or at least last week, I don’t know where he is this week because I haven’t seen him yet, but he was not where he could come out of breaks and do the things required to play receiver, and that’s tough. So he stayed here. He got extra rehab here, felt like he got a little better rehab here not having to be on it all weekend and during the game. So we’re, again, hopeful to get him back this week, but it will be day by day.”

Georgia’s high extensive receiver is Ladd McConkey, who has 578 receiving yards on the season. Kearis Jackson has 246 yards — second-most amongst true extensive receivers. That appears loopy this present day. Smart and offensive coordinator Todd Monken want to seek out someone exterior to assist the whole offense out, and Mitchell was presupposed to do exactly that. We’ll see if he goes this weekend. Either means, he must get again for the SEC Championship Game and potential return to the College Football Playoff.

Stetson for Heisman?: Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV has had an incredible season that ought to garner not less than some buzz for the Heisman Trophy. He is second within the SEC in passing yards per sport (289.5) although a number of Georgia video games have been blowouts with Bennett not even on the sphere. He has 144 speeding yards (together with destructive yards from sacks) and 7 speeding touchdowns on the street. More importantly, he is been a rock for the reigning nationwide champions of their quest to maintain success within the fashionable period.

Will Smart hold Bennett within the sport longer than anticipated and pad his stats? A Heisman Trophy is a superb recruiting instrument, and Smart is aware of simply how a lot it might imply to this system if he can develop a former walk-on into the winner of school soccer’s greatest particular person prize.

Georgia vs. Kentucky prediction, picks

I’ll take the Bulldogs to not solely win however cowl the huge unfold. The Wildcats have fallen off a cliff, quarterback Will Levis has thrown extra interceptions (5) than touchdowns (4) over the past 4 video games and the loss to Vanderbilt final week must be deflating for a workforce that after had excessive hopes. The Bulldogs will hold their foot on the gasoline greater than they usually do with a view to hold their first-teamers contemporary for the stretch run. Prediction: Georgia (-22.5)

Which faculty soccer picks are you able to make with confidence in Week 12, and which top-20 groups will go down laborious? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a confirmed pc mannequin that has returned virtually $3,000 in revenue over the previous six-plus seasons — and discover out.