The Georgia Bulldogs were so unimpressive against Kentucky last week that they lost their No. 1 ranking in the polls.
Of course, “unimpressive” is completely relative. After all, winning on the road in the SEC, especially against a defense as strong as Kentucky is not easy for anyone.
In the big picture, the only thing that matter is that Kirby Smart’s team got the win. Period.
Georgia, winners of two of the last three national championships, has set the standard in college football, often overwhelming opponents with lopsided victories.
The 13-12 final score caught many by surprise. However, with the news that quarterback Carson Beck was far from 100%, the ugly scoreline makes much more sense.
The Bulldogs’ 42-game regular-season winning streak and record-setting 28 straight SEC wins remain intact.
However, the hard-fought victory in Lexington has given future opponents a possible blueprint to challenge Georgia’s pursuit of a third national title in four years.
The banged-up Beck had a quiet night by his standards. While he made key plays in the closing moments, including going 3-for-3 on Georgia’s lone touchdown drive and completing both passes on their final possession, Beck’s overall performance was pedestrian.
He completed just 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards. Those aren’t the numbers expected from a quarterback whose name was floated as a potential Heisman Trophy favorite.
Georgia’s only touchdown came in the fourth quarter, a three-yard run by Branson Robinson, but the offense struggled to break down a resilient Kentucky defense for most of the night.
While it’s always a risky proposition to doubt a Kirby Smart team, the fact of the matter is the Dawgs did show some concerning vulnerabilities.
One of the game’s surprising aspects was Kentucky’s ability to win in the trenches, traditionally a Georgia stronghold.
Although Kentucky never recorded a sack on Beck, their defense pressured him with a QB hit and six hurries. The Wildcats also limited Georgia’s rushing attack to just 102 yards while making three tackles for loss.
Georgia converted just five of their 13 third-down attempts, another uncharacteristic stat for a team that typically dominates that phase of the game.
The struggle up front was a red flag for a squad that has built much of its recent success through its physicality at the line of scrimmage.
After surviving the close call, Georgia’s upcoming schedule only gets tougher.
Following a bye this week, the Bulldogs will travel to face No. 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Four of Georgia’s next seven games are against ranked opponents, including road trips to Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss, with a home game against Tennessee in mid-November.
Again, it’s always risky to doubt a Kirby Smart squad, especially in recent years … Having said that, just how concerned should Georgia be about their disappointing play in the trenches???