Is a bowl on the line?

I think it is a fair question. So does Bill Connelly:

Date	Opponent	Opp. S&P+ Rk	Win Probability	Proj. W-L	Proj. Margin	Proj. Score	Cumulative Proj. Wins
29-Oct	vs. Florida	9	13%	L	-19.5	13.5 - 33.0	4.13
5-Nov	at Kentucky	77	49%	L	-0.6	26.3 - 26.9	4.61
12-Nov	Auburn	8	16%	L	-17.3	17.8 - 35.0	4.77
19-Nov	UL-Lafayette	109	78%	W	13.3	33.2 - 19.9	5.55
26-Nov	Georgia Tech	55	45%	L	-2.1	25.9 - 27.9	6.00

If you are keeping score at home, his stats only show Georgia as a favorite in one more game this summer. More stunning to me is that they have us as an underdog at Kentucky and at home vs. Georgia Tech.

Then there is this.

No one ever said greatness would be easy.

T

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Final thoughts on Kentucky

We scored points!

Faces were made

Hey, I don't care how bad Kentucky's defense is. We did what a team is supposed to do to them.
TW

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The only Kentucky preview I can muster

1. Score some points.
2. With touchdowns.
3. On offense.

Oh, yeah. Don't give the other team points. Like the last five games.

Go Dawgs.

TW

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Georgia vs. Kentucky kickoff time set

We'll be at noon. Network to be determined between ESPN, ESPN2, and SEC Network.

Full listing of November 7th games:

Vanderbilt at Florida, Noon ET/11am CT on ESPN, ESPN2 or SEC Network*
Kentucky at Georgia, Noon ET/11 am CT on ESPN, ESPN2 or SEC Network*
Arkansas at Ole Miss, 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT on CBS
South Carolina at Tennessee, 4pm ET/3pm CT on SEC Network
Auburn at Texas A&M, 7:30pm ET/6:30pm CT on SEC Network
LSU at Alabama, 8 pm ET/7 pm CT on CBS

We'll know next Sunday what our network is.

See also-

Kentucky game tickets

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3 Questions Answered: Kentucky

1. Will we under estimate the Wildcats? Nope.
2. Seriously, will we make in game adjustments if the Wildcats find something that works? There were only two drives that really stood out to me that the Wildcats were able to really move down the field on offense, and one of those plays was exactly like what Florida did to us with a misdirection blocking scheme that got everyone shifting away from the play that resulted in a long TD run. It didn't happen again, so that's something.
3. Can our special teams improve back to average? With the exception of the curious case of Quayvon vs. pooch kicks (pooch kicks are winning 2-1 right now), I'd say we did ok.

TD

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3 Questions: Kentucky

Kentucky gave the number one team in the nation all they could handle for 3 quarters, putting up gaudy numbers against a good defense. In fact, this is a much improved team over the Wildcats we faced two years ago up there. And that game wasn't easily won.

1. Will we under estimate the Wildcats? Cause, you know, they lost to Missouri and our coaches said they aren't that good.
2. Seriously, will we make in game adjustments if the Wildcats find something that works? The most maddening thing about last week is that there seemed to be no attempts to change our defense alignment, sets, or approach, even as the Gators basically dared us to stop the run. While I've been really impressed with Pruitt as a coach, it is a glaring failure on his part to recognize that Florida wasn't ever, ever going to ask Harris to throw another pass last week. Add in his lack of forcing Florida to do something different and bringing the fight to the Gators, and that tempers some of my enthusiasm for his short tenure here.
3. Can our special teams improve back to average? I know we were due for a let down after six games of stunningly strong specials teams play. We'll have to get back to mere competence for me to feel ok about beating Kentucky.

As last week showed, anything can happen. And it has in Lexington. Kentucky always seems to play well against us up there. In my mind, we have to play aggressive defense and force them to do something, instead of laying back and letting their offense come to us. Offensively, we should be able to run the ball. 

Florida, LSU, South Carolina, and Mississippi State all gained more than 200 yards on the ground. If we can force Towles into having to win the game with his arm, I feel ok about this, as crazy as it sounds, because it will likely mean we have a lead that the Wildcats feel like they have to throw the ball to catch up to.

TD

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Friday Morning Meltdown: Kentucky

And y'all thought I've been over reacting....

• "Setting the edge" is now coach speak for "angle kick." And we set the edge about as well as we cover angle kicks.
• Both punters forget that they have to catch then kick.
• 74 yard fake punt fat guy touchdowns.
• David Andrews ankles.
• SEC offcials score more pancake blocks this week than last.
• Hutson Mason letting it rip....right to dudes in blue.
• Patrick Towles doing his best Tim Tebow impression.
• Vandy beating Florida while holding the Gators to 75 yards rushing on 56 carries.

Sounds about right?

TD

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Mark Richt has lost control of Rex Chapman

Dude.

Former @Suns player Rex Chapman accused of stealing from Apple store DETAILS: http://t.co/sYRBchnHVt pic.twitter.com/0aIB0faaxt
— AZ Family (@azfamily) September 19, 2014

The good news is he can always go play at Auburn.
TD

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Yeah, but what if Kentucky beats Florida

A lot has been made of JoJo Kemps words to his UF friends. I get where he's coming from, too. Is if false bravado? Probably. When you've got nearly three decades of futility against a team, maybe some taking a positive attitude isn't terrible.

Here's the thing, it's been 27 years since Kentucky beat Florida. While I'm normally a let your game speak for you type, when the monkey on your back is that old, maybe having a mental can do attitude is ok.

If the Gators need motivation in the form of a poster on the wall with a Kentucky running back's words on it, how mighty are they?

TD

See also:
- Kentucky Sports Radio, The Florida Boys'
- Alligator Army, Florida vs. Kentucky: Kemp preditcts "rubbing victory in (Gators') faces"

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3 questions: Kentucky

1. Will we play sharp? For some reason, the Kentucky game has represented all that the part of the fan base that wants Richt gone points to. We have looked uninspired, sloppy, and unprepared, leaning on the talent gap to pull away late (and in some cases not at all) for the past several seasons, it seems like. We have a double whammy with the Auburn loss and how we lost last week hanging over the program. I'm not concerned about losing to Kentucky. I'm concerned about not showing up because we are not interested in not getting beat.
2. How bad is Kentucky? Well, I don't think they are worse than Arkansas. They've played some decent teams close (think Louisville). That talent gap I talked about is huge here. It got bigger with those suspensions.
3. Will we be able to work on some stuff for Tech? Honestly, I want us to jump out to a big lead and allow Murray and the rest of the seniors to walk off the field to applause. More importantly, I want Murray and company to get some serious reps getting used to each other. Winning the next two games and whatever pre-NYD bowl we play in is important to me and them. Winning and getting right for Tech is a huge part of that.

TD

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Kentucky at Georgia set for night kickoff

7pm on ESPN2 or ESPNU.

Network	Time	Game
SEC TV	12:21 p.m. ET	Mississippi State at Arkansas (Little Rock)
PPV	1 p.m. ET	Coastal Carolina at South Carolina
PPV	2 p.m. ET	Chattanooga at Alabama
PPV	2 p.m. ET	Georgia Southern at Florida
CBS	3:30 p.m. ET	Texas A&M at LSU
ESPN2/ESPNU	7 p.m. ET	Kentucky at Georgia
ESPN2/ESPNU	7 p.m. ET	Vanderbilt at Tennessee
ESPN	7:45 p.m. ET	Missouri at Ole Miss

All day, y'all. All day.

TD

-Kentucky Tickets

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Mark Stoops has to teach fundamentals, like not falling down

For Kentucky to be relevant again.

Moving along...

TD

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Mark Stoops Hired at Kentucky

Interesting hire. He's been rumored to be the next guy at several places, including Florida State if Jimbo were to leave the Seminoles. So you have to think Fisher isn't going to Auburn. It remains to be seen, this seems like a very good and timely hire for the Wildcats, especially for their 2013 recruiting.

His connections in Ohio should yield dividends for Kentucky. It never made sense that the SEC program only 80 miles south of Cincinnati didn't do much football recruiting in Ohio. They'll never get the guys that tOSU is targeting but they would be able to get some of those WR-RB-QB types that Cincy and other programs in the B1.5G get. That would be a significant step up in offensive talent for the Wildcats.

Stoops is a defensive guy. He's done good things with FSU's defense. His coordinator hires will be interesting, and I expect him to get his brother Ron, Jr. to join him in some capacity at Kentucky. It wouldn't surprise me to see Brian Van Gorder in the mix up there either, considering his knowledge of the conference.

TD

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Does it matter?

Thinking about the comments from Bobo about the 'tweaks' to the game plan for South Carolina and the lack of rushing production in Lexington, is there something more in play here than merely trying to out smart other team's coordinators? The only difference is the loss of Michael Bennett, who was our best possession receiver. Was that the difference between an effective running game and not?

It is hard to say it is when your QB goes 75% for over 400 yards. It seemed we have decided that the power I is the wave of the future of Georgia offense, despite evidence that the dynamic rushing game from earlier in the season is lacking. To put it another way, is there something about the (now gone) opportunity for the offense to check into 'that' play against certain defensive sets that added to the rushing game?

I'm honestly baffled. It isn't like our offensive line is any different than it was. They are still getting beaten just about as much as they were and making holes as much as they were. I haven't re-watched the Kentucky game, but it seemed to me they were keeping both linebackers at home to keep us from being able to run. That should have allowed someone to have man coverage, probably on the inside, which is where Murray to Bennett made a living.

TD

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Kentucky Questions Answered

1. Can we get the offensive mojo back? You know, when a buddy texted me Murray's stats, I didn't believe them. I knew he was having a good game, but had no idea it was that good. As for the running game, I guess we got tired of those big runs we were getting from the pistol. Or something. 
2. Can we hold Kentucky scoreless? [indiscriminate ranting] [invectives] *balls up in the corner rocking* *chain smokes*
3. Can we please just have a game where we don't give up a long play or five? Well, see, what had happened was....

So if we are to have any hope of anything, Murray is going to have to have a 600 yard game after we run the ball up the middle 12 times to start the game. While hoping to tackle Florida inside the sidelines so the clock will run faster.  

No problem.

TD

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Kentucky Review

A couple of quick observations:

• I'm not sure why everyone is so quick to give Grantham a pass. The defense is regressing, and not by a little. I don't have the inclination to look up the actual stats, but Kentucky's offense looked entirely too competent, especially against our line.
• Nice game by Aaron was masked by two dropped TD passes and one dropped first down pass.  
• What was with the penalties?
• And when did our running game become so blah?

This game was like my trip to Keeneland: we were luck to get out ahead. 

TD

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3 Questions: Kentucky

1. Can we get the offensive mojo back? Yeah, I know. 
2. Can we hold Kentucky scoreless? Dude, we need an overwhelming effort defensively. Not just a good game. A pure ass whipping. I know it is Kentucky. I know they are an awful offensive team. I know. We need this.
3. Can we please just have a game where we don't give up a long play or five? This goes along with number 2, but getting back on the train to show we can do this. Of course, actually doing it would be nice.

We aren't going to wash the shitburger taste from the Carolina game out in one game. There will be those that get all 'whatever, it's Kentucky.' Those same will have a duck fit if we don't utterly dominate the Wildcats.  Here's hoping we can do so.

TD

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What you missed during the off week

• South Carolina is still South Carolina
• Florida took forever to put Vandy away
• Arkansas established themselves as easily the 13th best team in the conference
• The world loves Notre Dame, even though they got a make up call from the Bush push
• The Dan Mullen, football genius
• Kansas State just do what they do
• Texas<Texas Tech
• Is the Big 10 too big to fail?

We've got Kentucky in this Saturday. Don't let what happened in Arkansas fool you. Kentucky is much better than that. At home. When they play a full game.

This is a trap game, isn't it....

TD

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Kentucky Game Time Set

7pm on either ESPN2, ESPNU or FSN. CBS is using a 6 day option on South Carolina at Florida, Alabama at Tennessee and LSU at Texas A&M. ESPN will televise the other two, one at noon and one at 7pm.

Before you go all nutso about what happened Saturday night, that didn't play into this. Kentucky is a bad, bad football team. There was no way this game was going to end up on ESPN or CBS, even if we were 6-0. For that matter, our game isn't the worst of the day. Auburn at Vandy is the SECNet game.

TD

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UGA vs. Kentucky Pics- Defense

All images by Jim Hipple. Please click to enlarge.

A well deserved dunk, thanks to the D.

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