Kentucky vs Georgia Odds: Is This the Year Bulldogs Cover Against Wildcats?

Georgia Looks to Cover For The First Time in Five Games Against the Wildcats

Georgia survived a scare in its first road game of the 2023 season and expect the Bulldogs to be dialed in as they return home. The Kentucky vs Georgia odds list the Bulldogs as a double-digit favorite against Kentucky for the fifth season in a row.

Kentucky has lost its last 13 games to Georgia. However, the Wildcats have covered in each of the last four meetings.

First place in the SEC East Division is on the line when the Wildcats and Bulldogs are both 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. The NCAAF scores and odds have Georgia as the 14.5-point favorite.

Georgia has failed to cover against the NCAA football betting lines in three of its last four SEC games when listed as a double-digit favorite.

When it comes to the top college football teams, Georgia received 94 of the 126 first-place votes in the Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association polls. Kentucky broke into both national polls at No. 20 this week.

Georgia, the two-time defending national champion, remains the front-runner at +300 in the odds to win the national title. Kentucky is well back at +20000 in the championship odds.

Making The Most of Their Opportunities

Kentucky has attempted the fewest running plays in the SEC. However, the Wildcats lead the SEC with an average of 6.48 yards per carry.

Ray Davis, who is the leading rusher in the SEC, is averaging 7.8 yards per carry. He is coming off a 280-yard game in a win over Florida. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Kentucky vs Georgia odds.

When Davis faced Georgia in 2022 when he played at Vanderbilt, he was held to 29 yards on 12 carries. If that happens again, Kentucky will be in trouble.

The Wildcats also have the No. 2 rated rush defense in the SEC. The defense is a reason why 15 of Kentucky’s last 19 games finished under the total.

Bowers Ready for An Encore

Georgia’s passing numbers aren’t too far off from what the Bulldogs had through five games in 2022 with one more touchdown pass, three fewer completions and just 51 fewer yards with Carson Beck as the starting quarterback in place of two-time national champion QB Stetson Bennett.

It helps that tight end Brock Bowers is fourth in the SEC with 19 receptions of at least 10 yards. That is six more than any other tight end in the country. The Beck to Bowers connection is one of the reasons why the Kentucky vs Georgia odds favor the host Bulldogs.

Bowers has 17 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games. He had 101 yards on five catches with a pair of TDs as a freshman versus the Wildcats.

The total has gone over in six of Georgia’s last nine games.

Last Meeting

Georgia didn’t score its first touchdown until midway through the third quarter. However, the defense held Kentucky without any points until less than 10 minutes remained. Kentucky did cover in the 16-6 loss as a 22.5-point underdog at home.

It was the fourth straight Georgia-Kentucky matchup to go under the total with Kentucky managing a total of 22 points in those three games.

What to Expect

Georgia has been playing with fire in its first two SEC games, beating South Carolina by 10 points and Auburn by seven. That is not what many expected when it comes to college football scores for the top-ranked team in the country. The Bulldogs were outscored 24-13 in the first half in those games.

Can Kentucky do the same and get up early on the Bulldogs?

Georgia goes after its 21st straight home win and seven consecutive home victories versus Kentucky.

One difference between Georgia and Kentucky is that the Bulldogs have had 26 drives reach the red zone, nine more than Kentucky.

Both teams are allowing less than 300 yards per game and it is worth watching to see if that holds up in this matchup or if the offense can get rolling. Georgia QB Beck is sixth in the SEC in passer rating with Devin Leary of Kentucky coming in at No. 10.

Something to consider is that Georgia is second in the SEC in third-down conversions on offense and third-down defense as well.

Receiver Barion Brown, who had 10 catches for 145 yards in last year’s meeting with Georgia, is questionable for Kentucky as is defensive lineman Tre’Vonn Rybka (five tackles, one tackle for loss).

For Georgia, running back Roderick Robinson (ankle) and tight end Pearce Spurlin are both questionable. Robinson would be the bigger loss if he is unable to play.

Georgia has yet to cover against the spread this season with Kentucky 4-1 against the college football betting lines so far this season.

The 49-point total is the highest for a Kentucky-Georgia game since the 2016 meeting. Each of the last four times that a game in this series had a total of 49 or higher, it went under that total.

The Wildcats have covered in five of their last six road games.

While the numbers might not back it up, roll with the Bulldogs to put away the Wildcats in this matchup and cover for the first time in 2023.

For NCAAF news, betting analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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