Georgia football favored to bounce back impressively against Kentucky

ATHENS — Georgia football is coming off one its worst upsets in Sanford Stadium history, but as bad as things are, the Bulldogs still opened as a 27-point favorite over Kentucky.

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This, even though the Wildcats are coming off their first SEC win of the season, a 24-20 home victory over Arkansas.

UGA plays host to Kentucky at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Sanford Stadium (TV: ESPN).

The Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1) dropped to No. 10 in the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll after their 20-17 double-overtime loss to South Carolina, a game that saw Georgia struggle at the most inopportune times.

A review of the boxscore reflects the Bulldogs outgained the Gamecocks 468-297 and controlled the clock 36:04 to 23:56. Four UGA turnovers and two missed field goals, however, proved too much to overcome.

Georgia enters the week with many second-guessing offensive coordinator James Coley, even though the Bulldogs rank 10th in the nation in total offense with 504.8 yards per game.

Contrast that to Kentucky (3-3, 1-3), which ranks 89th in the nation in total offense (384.3) under offensive coordinator Eddie Gran.

It was Gran who reportedly indicated to Kentucky media last spring that he received an offer from Kirby Smart to become the Bulldogs offensive coordinator. Some suspected it was an attempt to leverage a new contract in his coordinator role.

Georgia sources confirmed to DawgNation that coach Kirby Smart talked with Gran about a position on the staff, but an offer to become the offensive coordinator was never forthcoming.

Indeed, the Wildcats offense last season ranked 103rd in the nation, and that was in a 10-win season.

Coley was being groomed for the OC position at Georgia for some time, having been promoted to coach quarterbacks and work alongside Jim Chaney as co-offensive coordinator last season.

It’s hard to imagine any political fallout from Gran using his UGA interview to boost his stock at Kentucky playing a role in the game, but it’s safe to say the Bulldogs will look to get their offensive on track to its fullest potential after the embarrassing loss to the Gamecocks.

Georgia handled Kentucky last season in Lexington, 34-17, in a game that was never really in doubt.

“They beat us in all phases,” UK coach Mark Stoops said after the Bulldogs out-rushed the Wildcats 331 yards to 84 in a game that determined the SEC East Division champion.