Lexington , KY - A crushing defeat likely ended Georgia's chances of a Southeastern Conference division title, but coach Mark Richt expects his team to bounce back.
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Richt's 14th-ranked Bulldogs look to regroup from a difficult loss on Saturday as they try for their 11th win in 12 matchups with SEC East rival Kentucky.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Georgia -10 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 77% of bets for this game have been placed on Georgia -10 (View College Football bet percentages).
Preseason No. 1 Georgia (7-2, 4-2) has fallen short of expectations, but was still ranked eighth entering last Saturday's matchup with Florida. However, they were overwhelmed in a 49-10 loss to the Gators in Jacksonville, Fla., and tumbled six places in the rankings.
The defeat likely eliminated Georgia as a contender to win the SEC East, as Florida can clinch the division with a win at reeling Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Now, Richt must refocus his team on winning its remaining three games - starting this week at Kentucky (6-3, 2-3), which has only one more conference loss than Georgia.
"We've got to go back and win another game," Richt said. "I don't think anybody feels good about (the loss). I don't think it's a confidence issue. I think it's just a matter of feeling sick and just having to get back to work and get back to hopefully winning a ball game."
The Bulldogs appear to have a good shot at winning this weekend, as they are 10-1 versus the Wildcats since 1997. The lone loss in that span, though, came in their last visit to Lexington - a 24-20 defeat on Nov. 4, 2006.
"We just have to focus in on Kentucky, line it up and try to get the job done," defensive end Jeremy Lomax told the Bulldogs' official Web site.
Georgia's defense didn't get the job done against Florida, giving up 373 total yards - its second-most of the season. The 49 points allowed were the most for the Bulldogs since a 51-33 loss to then-No. 13 Tennessee on Oct. 7, 2006.
The Bulldogs' offense, meanwhile, is averaging an SEC-leading 427.6 yards thanks to quarterback Matthew Stafford, who paces the conference with 245.7 passing yards per game, and running back Knowshon Moreno, whose 110.0 rushing yards per game rank third in the SEC.
Moreno had 22 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown in last season's win over the Wildcats.
Stafford and Moreno both faltered against Florida. Stafford threw a career high-tying three interceptions, while Moreno was held to 17 rushes for 65 yards to end a run of three consecutive 100-yard performances.
Georgia will likely need both offensive stars to return to form against Kentucky, which blocked an extra point early in the fourth quarter to beat Mississippi State 14-13 last Saturday and become bowl eligible for a third straight season.
Quarterback Randall Cobb went 7-for-13 for 56 yards and a touchdown and also rushed 12 times for 31 yards and a TD as he alternated possessions with Mike Hartline, who went 9-for-17 for 90 yards. Cobb was named the starter after Kentucky's 63-5 loss to then-No. 5 Florida on Oct. 25, but both players saw action a week later.
"We are starting to get production in different areas and different ways," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. "I know it's not aesthetically pleasing sometimes, but we're finding ways to win games."
Kentucky is looking to win consecutive SEC games for just the second time this decade. The Wildcats defeated Mississippi State, Georgia and Vanderbilt from Oct. 28-Nov. 11, 2006.
Top Betting Trends
All games in this series since 1992
GEORGIA is 9-7 against the spread versus KENTUCKY since 1992
GEORGIA is 14-2 straight up against KENTUCKY since 1992
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1992
Games over the last 3 seasons
KENTUCKY is 1-1 against the spread versus GEORGIA over the last 3 seasons
KENTUCKY is 1-1 straight up against GEORGIA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
All games played at KENTUCKY since 1992
KENTUCKY is 4-4 against the spread versus GEORGIA since 1992
GEORGIA is 6-2 straight up against KENTUCKY since 1992
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1992
Games played at KENTUCKY over the last 3 seasons.
KENTUCKY is 1-0 against the spread versus GEORGIA over the last 3 seasons
KENTUCKY is 1-0 straight up against GEORGIA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
Key Player Injuries
GEORGIA
[LS] Jeff Henson is out for the season. - Suspension - 09/19/08
[DT] Brandon Wood missed last game, expected to miss. - Suspension - 10/27
[LB] Akeem Hebron missed last game doubtful - Ankle - 10/25/08
- Chris Little out indefinitely. - Foot - 08/26/08
[OT] Trinton Sturdivant is expected to miss entire season. - Knee - 08/12/
- Vince Vance out for season - Knee - 10/12/08
[TE] Tripp Chandler missed last game %27?%27 - Shoulder - 10/26/08
[WR] Tony Wilson out for season - Ankle - 10/07/08
[DL] Jeff Owens is expected to miss entire season - ACL - 08/31/08
[LB] Dannell Ellerbe missed last game, upgraded to probable. - Knee - 10/2
[LB] Charles White is expected to miss entire season - Achilles - 09/06/08
S Quintin Banks is out indefinitely. - Knee - 10/22/08
KENTUCKY
[FS] Marcus McClinton is "?". - Knee - 10/28/08
[CB] Paul Warford will miss entire season - Eligibility - 08/07/08
[DT] Ricky Lumpkin injured last game, "?". - Calf - 10/26/08
[DT] Myron Pryor missed last game, doubtful. - Ankle - 10/25/08
[LB] Johnny Williams is %27?%27 - Shoulder - 10/27/08
[LB] Micah Johnson injured last game, downgraded to doubtful. - Ankle - 10
[LB] Braxton Kelley is %27?%27 - Shoulder - 10/27/08
[OT] Justin Jeffries upgraded to "?". - Knee - 10/28/08
[OT] Garry Williams is %27?%27 - Knee - 10/27/08
[OG] Jess Beets injured last game %27?%27 - Knee - 10/27/08
[QB] Randall Cobb expected to start - None - 10/27/08
(!) [QB] Curtis Pulley has been dismissed from the team. - Disciplinary -
[RB] Derrick Locke is out for the rest of the season. - Knee - 10/20/08
[WR] Dicky Lyons is out for the rest of the season. - Knee - 10/11/08
[WR] Kyrus Lanxter missed last game %27?%27 - Knee - 10/25/08
[WR] EJ Fields is out indefinitely - Hamstring - 09/07/08
[RG] Stuart Hines is out indefinitely. - Knee - 10/07/08