Papa John’s Preview: UGA playing against more than Kentucky on Saturday

Georgia’s opponent on Saturday is officially listed as Kentucky. However, the Bulldogs are also playing against history.

First and foremost, there’s the matter of UGA’s bowl streak. It currently stands at 19 consecutive postseason trips. The last time the Bulldogs didn’t qualify for a bowl was 1996 — in Jim Donnan’s first year as coach.

Given the Bulldogs’ 4-4 record, and the fact that they have only four games left, a victory against the Wildcats may be crucial in securing a 20th straight bowl trip at season’s end.

Holiday plans aren’t the only thing at stake, though. There’s also the matter of avoiding a loss to Kentucky — a program over which the Bulldogs are usually a heavy favorite.

In fact, this is the first time since 1998 that UGA has been picked to win this game by less than a field goal. The line is UGA -2 on Saturday.

Of course, being a big favorite hasn’t prevented Bulldogs losses in the past. UGA dropped a game to Kentucky in 2009, and was also beaten by the Wildcats in 2006 — a year that included the humiliation of being defeated by Vanderbilt as well.

DawgNation doesn’t need to be reminded what happened to the Bulldogs against the Commodores a few weeks ago, and fans certainly don’t need an explanation for why the experience of being knocked off by both these traditional SEC bottom feeders in the same season is an experience best kept in the distant past.

No matter what happens for UGA vs. Kentucky on Saturday night, the place for DawgNation to talk about all the action is on the Papa John’s postgame show immediately after the game on Facebook Live. For a preview of this week’s broadcast, watch the video above.