Sports

ATHENS, Ga — It’s Saturday in Athens and the Georgia Bulldogs are in a position to do something they haven’t done since 2005.

Clinch the SEC East.

The only thing that stands in the way of an SEC Championship berth is a 4-6 Kentucky Wildcat team hungry for a bowl berth.

This is a game Georgia should win. This is a game that should be over in the first half. Georgia is the better team and they must take care of business. Plain and simple.

The defense has been playing lights out after allowing 35 points to Boise State. Aaron Murray leads the offense and is having a record breaking season.

The game will kickoff at 12:21 on the SEC Network.

1st Quarter: Notes, Stats and Analysis

It’s been a sluggish start for the Georgia Bulldogs with a berth in the SEC Championship game on the line.

The defense allowed Kentucky to drive into the redzone in its first drive, but stalled at the 15 yard line and Kentucky kicked a field goal to put the first points of the game on the scoreboard.

Georgia answered with a drive of their own, and tied the game at 3 after a 39-yard field goal by Blair Walsh.

After the first drive, the Georgia defense settled down and Kentucky’s next three drives consisted of 2 three and outs and an interception.

Play of the first quarter was a 53-yard interception return by Branden Smith that resulted in Georgia taking a 6-3 lead following another 39-yard field goal by Blair Walsh

Aaron Murray has thrown for 41 yards on 4-for-6 passing. Tavarres King leads all recievers with 18 yards on 2 receptions. Crowell is the leading rusher with 11 yards on 2 carries, but has been sidelined with an ankle injury. His return in questionable.

Kentucky has outgained Georgia 84-77, and the time of possession is about even (UK 7:33, UGA 7:27)

Georgia 6, Kentucky 3

2nd Quarter: Notes, Stats and Analysis

It hasn’t been pretty, but Georgia holds a 12-10 lead over Kentucky at halftime.

It doesn’t matter whether Georgia wins by 30 points or 1 point, all the Bulldogs need is a win to be in the SEC Championship game.

But this isn’t the type of effort and play you want to see from a team ranked 13th in the nation and on an eight game winning streak.

Aaron Murray has struggled so far. He has thrown for 64 yards on 9-for-18 passing. Murray is also the leading rusher with 19 yards on five carries including a long of 13.

Crowell still has not returned to the game after suffering an ankle injury in the first quarter. He had 11 yards on 2 carries prior to the injury.

Malcolm Mitchell is the leading receiver with 4 receptions for 26 yards. King has 24 yards on 3 receptions.

Georgia has been outgained by Kentucky, 152-114 in the first half.

The four scoring drives for Georgia. 6 plays, 23 yards. 4 plays, 5 yards. 7 plays, 16 yards. 4 plays, 8 yards.

The Bulldogs have been unable to sustain a drive, and the longest drive of the day was a 9-play, 29 yard drive that resulted in a punt. Georgia’s average starting position for the first half was their own 45 yard line.

3rd Quarter: Notes, Stats and Analysis

Georgia’s defense is playing like they want to be in the SEC Championship. The offense, not so much.

The Kentucky offense had three drives in the third quarter. Two of them ended on three and outs, the other one ended on a fumble. Jarvis Jones and Shawn Williams are the two guys that have really stood out.

Georgia outgained Kentucky 149-2 in that quarter, but Georgia wasn’t able to put any points on the board.

Aaron Murray has thrown for 144 yards on 14-for-27 passing. Murray thew his first interception since the Florida game. In his last two games, Murray threw for nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Malcolm Mitchell leads all receivers with 26 yards on 4 receptions. Brandon Harton leads all rushers with 68 yards on 15 carries.

Harton isn’t the most physical back, and when he gets hit, he generally stops right there. Ken Malcome has rushed the ball for 23 yards on 6 carries.

It’s been a turnover filled game. Kentucky has turned the ball over four times, and Georgia has turned the ball over three times.

There are 15 minutes left in this game, and Georgia leads Kentucky 12-10.