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Georgia Football: 3 Bold Predictions as Bulldogs battle Kentucky for SEC East

By John Mitchell

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 27: Tae Crowder #30 of the Georgia Bulldogs recovers a fumble during a game against the Florida Gators at TIAA Bank Field on October 27, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 27: Tae Crowder #30 of the Georgia Bulldogs recovers a fumble during a game against the Florida Gators at TIAA Bank Field on October 27, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

3. Rodrigo Blankenship is the MVP

Hot Rod has been one of the most reliable kickers in college football over the last few years, and he could be called upon numerous times on Saturday afternoon in Lexington.

The junior kicker is 47-of-56 over his three-year career in Athens and is perfect on extra points. He is 13-of-15 this season with his two misses both coming during the same game against Missouri.

Kentucky’s defense has been excellent in the redzone this season, giving up only 8 touchdowns in 19 opposing trips. In contrast, Georgia is scoring touchdowns on less than 64 percent of its trips to the redzone, which means it stands to reason that Blankenship will be called upon several times in this game.

It’ll be tough enough for Georgia to even get into the redzone against the Wildcats defense – it’s a crazy stat that they’ve only allowed 19 redzone trips in eight games this season.

Hot Rod is dependable on longer kicks as well, connecting on 7-of-8 attempts from 40+ yards out this season. He’s no stranger to pressure-packed kicks either, connecting on a game-winning field goal against Notre Dame in South Bend last season, and drilling clutch kicks in both the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship game in Atlanta.

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I expect Blankenship to trot out numerous times for the Bulldogs on Saturday, and he’ll do what he’s done over his career with Georgia: deliver when he is needed most.

I predict that Blankenship goes 4-for-4 on field goals, hitting a couple from 40+ yards out, and will be the difference in a Georgia victory.

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