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Georgia needs to focus on Saturday

There’s still no looking past the immediate task at hand.
Nick Chubb #27 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after being tackled by the Auburn Tigers defense at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ATHENS, Ga. - Yes, Georgia was knocked out of the unbeaten ranks by Auburn Saturday night but the Bulldogs still enjoy a perch most teams would love to have.

At 9-1 and a berth in the SEC Championship Dec. 2 in Mercedes Benz Stadium already assured, Georgia can still earn a spot in the four-team College Football Playoffs by winning its next three games, starting with Saturday’s home finale (3:30, CBS) against Kentucky (7-3, 4-3).

However, there’s still no looking past the immediate task at hand.

“I will be honest with you — I am worried about Kentucky. I really am. I know you want to ask about that and focus on that. Our concern — we had mistakes,” Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart said. “We had really undisciplined penalties. Things I talked about in the postgame presser. But, our players, we have told them we have moved on. We have to go get ready for Kentucky and that is really where our focus is.”

Smart believes his team will respond from last week’s 40-17 loss to the Tigers.

“The first thing I saw was guys coming in here with a good attitude (Sunday) ready to work, good spirits, leaders talking and communicating. I got to be around the players and eat with them yesterday. These players they will respond the right way,” Smart said. “They are made of the right stuff and that is all we can ask them to do is to come in with a really good attitude, get to work. I expect them to do that. I am excited about moving on getting a chance to go get to work on Kentucky today. That is what they have to do. The focus for us is totally on the Big Blue because we have to go out here and stop these guys.”

The Wildcats can score some points.

Kentucky is averaging 30 points per game, led by 223-pound sophomore running back Benny Snell, who has rushed for 1,013 yards and 15 touchdowns.

How impressive is Snell?

Although just a sophomore he’s already set the Kentucky record for touchdowns (28) in just under two years. Considering the Bulldogs just gave up 167 yards to Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson, Smart is naturally concerned.

“They had a couple of drives last year, particularly one at the end, they ran almost the whole series with him in the ‘wildcat.’ They are good at it. They are physical,” Smart said. “Our kids talked last year about that was the most physical game they played in from a defensive standpoint because it was so much grinding and hitting. They pride themselves on that, so it will be a great challenge for us. When we did not stop the run really well last week, we are getting an opportunity this week to play a team that is hell-bent on running the ball.”

Anthony Dasher writes for UGASports.com

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