By Joshua Huff

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Containing The Edge

Three consecutive losses have not dampened the hopes of a UK football team that has upset on its mind. No. 17 Georgia limps into town for UK’s final home game of the season, Senior Day for guys like defensive end Bud Dupree.

With the loss to Missouri behind them, the Cats have to contend with yet another SEC foe in what has turned into a tough second half schedule for a UK team that started off the season 5-1 and in the discussion for the SEC East crown.

Now, the Cats will face a Georgia team that was humiliated on Saturday by Florida, who at this point in time is simply playing for its coach’s job.

Florida destroyed Georgia’s run defense. Running backs Matt Jones and Kelvin Taylor amassed 389 yards rushing and four touchdowns as the Gators won for the first time against the Bulldogs under head coach Will Muschamp.

This is as positive a sign for the UK run game as it will get. The Cats’ are in desperate need of a spark in the backfield and if UK can take a page out of Florida’s playbook, then nearly-minted starter and freshman running back Stanley “Boom” Williams should have no trouble finding holes.

However, don’t expect Georgia to come into Commonwealth Stadium with the same alignments on defense as against Florida. The Gators gained significant yardage bouncing the ball out to the edge, a mistake by the Georgia defense who played too far inside and couldn’t recover to catch Jones or Taylor.

The Bulldogs pride themselves on being able to stop the run, and with a UK run game that plays predominantly east-to-west, look for the Bulldogs to set up the edge and force the Cats to power their way through the middle.

The Edge — Georgia

SEC Fatigue?

With the SEC placing two of four teams in the hunt for the four playoff spots, it’s common knowledge that the conference is a powerhouse nearly top-to-bottom.

Just imagine having to play six consecutive SEC games against teams that could contend for the crown in most other conferences. Georgia has played six of eight straight conference games as they take on a UK team that will be playing in its fourth consecutive SEC game.

The wear-and-tear of the season, along with playing in a conference as demanding and tough as the SEC is, will wear teams down. Look at UK, who started off with a non-conference heavy opening schedule and went 5-1. Now UK has had to play with the big boys (LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Georgia and Tennessee) and has, so far ,lost three of those five games.

Granted, the more the difficult the game, the more experience gained for a young Cats team struggling to find its way. UK somehow manages to put up a fight at home regardless of the opponent, so Georgia will be in for another dogfight on Saturday. But after suffering as embarrassing a loss as they did at home against the Gators, the Bulldogs need this win to stay within a game of Missouri for the SEC East crown.

The Edge — Georgia

Prediction

Georgia needs this win more than UK needs it. With running back Todd Gurley’s suspension ending next week, the Bulldogs are in a crucial battle with Missouri for first place in the SEC East. UK puts up a fight in Commonwealth, but a fractured ego and lack of talent compared to Georgia, will allow the Bulldogs to take the win into a huge matchup against Auburn next weekend.

Georgia 35, UK 21