With both teams in a 'bad mood,' No. 12 Georgia battles Kentucky

Looking to begin a new home winning streak, No. 12 Georgia will try to overcome a disappointing loss ahead of a Southeastern Conference matchup with Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in Athens, Ga.

Georgia (3-1, 1-1 SEC) fell 24-21 to then-No. 17 Alabama last week to snap the Bulldogs' FBS-best 33-game home winning streak.

After dropping seven spots in the latest Top 25 poll, Georgia will try to avoid losing two games in a row.

"We've got to go play a really good football team, so I'm not concerned about it," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of managing the emotions after the loss to Alabama.

History shows Kentucky is the right opponent for Georgia to get back on track, as the Bulldogs have won 15 straight in the series. That doesn't mean Smart won't have his team ready for the Wildcats' level of toughness.

"We've had head-to-head battles many times with these guys. Coach (Mark) Stoops' teams are always physical, so we know it'll be physical," Smart said. "They have a defensive head coach, Coach Stoops, who believes in running the ball. They have really good run schemes, and they have really big physical guys, and their backs match their O-line in terms of size."

Georgia will look to revitalize its passing game after Gunner Stockton mustered just 130 yards through the air against Alabama, the fewest by a Bulldogs quarterback since Stetson Bennett threw for 116 yards in 2022 against Kentucky.

Following a 35-13 loss to South Carolina last week, Kentucky (2-2, 0-2) has dropped seven straight conference games since an upset of No. 6 Ole Miss on Sept. 28 of last season.

Stoops and company are getting Georgia at a bad time, but the Wildcats have their own score to settle Saturday.

"Another great challenge here this week, going on the road and playing a great Georgia team, always a very big challenge, as we know," Stoops said. "Georgia coming off a loss, I'm sure they'll be in a bad mood, like our players are."

Stoops, who in his 13th season at Kentucky is the longest-tenured SEC head coach, is still looking for his first win over the Bulldogs. Last season marked one of Kentucky's best chances, as the Wildcats held a fourth-quarter lead over No.1 Georgia before falling 13-12.

"Through the years, we've always tried to be very tough and very physical and play the game the right way," Stoops said. "(Georgia) has been, certainly, on the right side of the wins and losses. They have a great team. They've beat a lot of people and they've had a great program for a long time."

After seventh-year quarterback Zach Calzada went down with a shoulder injury in Kentucky's 30-23 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 6, Stoops inserted redshirt freshman Cutter Boley, who has thrown for 364 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions, through his first two career starts. Boley struggled against the Gamecocks, completing just 10 of 19 passes for 124 yards with two picks.

"Cutter will get better," Stoops said. "The nice thing about him, he's very resilient and has a strong belief in himself, and the players believe in him as well."

--Field Level Media