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Here are some quick thoughts on Georgia’s win over Kentucky on Saturday:
What it means: The win temporarily quiets indigestion around the Georgia program and keeps alive a chance at a nine-win regular season. Kentucky, meanwhile, will only hear more questions about the direction of the program, what additional changes should be made, and if bowl eligibility is possible. There could be more discussion about a change at quarterback as Patrick Towles has 12 interceptions and nine touchdowns on the year.
What I liked: Terry Godwin and Sony Michel giving the Georgia offense a spark out of the Wild Dawg formation. Godwin scored a 28-yard TD in that formation after initially bobbling the snap. It was the first Georgia TD since Oct. 10 against Tennessee.
What I didn’t like: A sloppy first half. The teams combined for four turnovers, including a botched punt return, and a missed field-goal attempt. None of the quarterbacks were impressive as Patrick Towles, who was 3-for-13 for 38 yards in the first half, while Greyson Lambert was 2-for-7 and Brice Ramsey 4-for-6 for a combined 60 yards. The teams also combined for 82 penalty yards in the first half, and were a combined 5-for-14 on third downs. The half also included a would-be onside kick recovery for Kentucky that Georgia initially muffed. But the Wildcats were flagged for offsides to wipe out the play.
Who’s the man: Playing with a cast on his broken right hand, RB Sony Michel had 24 carries for 165 yards as he appears to be Georgia’s best running back following the knee injury to Nick Chubb. He had seven carries for 26 yards on the scoring drive midway through the third quarter. His 45-yard run late in the third quarter helped Georgia pull away and setup a Keith Marshall TD.
Key play: On the Wildcats’ first possession of the second half, Georgia stopped Kentucky on a fourth-down carry at midfield by Jojo Kemp. DL Chris Mayes — who earlier that drive ran down WR Dorian Baker — made the tackle on Kemp. Ten plays later, Michel scored on a 1-yard TD run to give the Bulldogs a two-TD lead with 6:28 left in the third quarter.
What’s next: Georgia travels to Auburn next week for a noon ET kickoff while Kentucky will be in Nashville, Tenn., to play Vanderbilt at 4 p.m.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
