What UGA fans need know about Kentucky

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Record: 6-4 (2-4 SEC)

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Mark Humphrey, AP Kentucky's Randall Cobb has made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver. He has 32 receptions for 384 yards and four touchdowns.

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• Last week: Defeated Vanderbilt 24-13 to become bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive season.

• Last time played Georgia: UK lost 42-38 in Lexington last year in a game that featured six lead changes in the second half.

• Kentucky on offense: Sophomore Randall Cobb is a do-it-all offensive weapon for the Wildcats. The starting quarterback against Georgia last year, he is playing primarily at wide receiver this season, but also gets occasional snaps at QB in what Kentucky calls the "WildCobb" formation. Cobb is second in the SEC in touchdowns with 12 (seven rushing, four receiving, one returning). Kentucky ranks fifth in the SEC in rushing offense (203.5 yards per game), led by junior tailback Derrick Locke's 82.3 yards per game, but is next to last in the league in passing offense (147.7 yards per game). Junior quarterback Mike Hartline, who started the first five games  before suffering a knee injury, is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday. True freshman Morgan Newton will start his fifth consecutive game at QB on Saturday.

• Kentucky on defense: The Wildcats are allowing 21.7 points per game, which ranks seventh in the SEC, and are better against the pass than against the run. They rank fourth in the SEC and ninth in the nation in pass defense (165.6 yards per game) but 11th in the SEC and 98th nationally  in rushing defense (177.6 yards per game). Kentucky has intercepted 13 passes, third most in the league, including four by senior linebacker Sam Maxwell. Senior cornerback Trevard Lindley, who missed four games earlier this season with an ankle injury, was first-team All-SEC last year and has a penchant for making big plays.

• Kentucky on special teams: Cobb and Locke are a dangerous tandem on kick returns. Cobb is averaging 13.2 yards per punt return, third best in the SEC. On kickoffs, Locke has returned 14 for  an average of 30.9 yards (best in the SEC) and Cobb 12 for an average of 25.2 yards (ninth best in the SEC). Cobb and Locke are third and fourth, respectively, in the league in all-purpose yards.

• What you need to know: The Wildcats have won their past two SEC road games – at Auburn Oct. 17 and at Vanderbilt last week – but have not won in Athens since Oct. 22, 1977. They are 0-15 in Sanford Stadium since then.

• What you might not know: UK coach Rich Brooks' first game as a collegiate head coach was in Sanford Stadium, where his Oregon team lost to Georgia 27-16 on Sept. 10, 1977.

• Coach: Brooks is 129-154-4 in 25 years as a college head coach, including 38-45 in seven years at Kentucky. He also was 13-19 in two seasons as head coach of the NFL's St. Louis Rams. He was the Atlanta Falcons' assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1997-2000 and interim head coach for the final two regular-season games in 1998 (2-0).

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