WATCH SEC Network analyst East Division ‘two-man race with Kentucky and Georgia’

ATHENS — Former Vanderbilt quarterback and current SEC Network analyst Jordan Rodgers broke down the SEC East Division race for DawgNation on Friday night.

Rodgers, who has become well-known for his weekly quarterback rankings, explained why he sees Kentucky as the biggest threat to Georgia.

“Kentucky is intriguing because I think even more so than Georgia right now, they have an identity, they know exactly who they are, they know they run the football, they know they play zone, and keep everything in front of you on the defense side and be physical enough,” Rodgers said.

“The X-factor for me is can Terry Wilson develop into a quarterback that can be dynamic but also not hurt them and protect the football, like Jake Fromm does,” Rodgers said.

“If they can protect the football from that position, I think they can push Georgia. If they are on the field tomorrow, I think Georgia wins that football game, and they are still dominating the East.”

The No 2-ranked Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0 SEC) play host to Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-1) at 7:30 p.m. at Sanford Stadium. Tom Hart will provide the play-by-play with Rodgers doing color commentary and Cole Cubelic reporting from the sideline.

Kentucky (5-0, 3-0), ranked No. 13, plays at Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) at 7 p.m. tonight.

Rodgers said he sees the SEC East as a race between just two teams.

“To me it’s a two-man race with Kentucky and Georgia,” Rodgers said. “If Terry Wilson can develop, they have a shot, but to me Georgia is just going to be too much in the end, and I think they’ll end up in Atlanta.”

The Bulldogs play at Kentucky on Nov. 3 in a game fellow SEC analyst Marcus Spears said he believes has a “70 percent chance” of determined the East Division winner.

Rodgers doesn’t see other East Division teams as a threat.

“I was actually one before the season that wasn’t as high on South Carolina, and we saw that come to fruition,” said Rodgers, who was at Stegeman Coliseum Friday night to judge a slam dunk contest.

“If I’m looking at the East, Georgia is a step ahead of everybody else. Kentucky is interesting, Florida is talented, but I don’t think they are there just yet.”

Georgia football vs. Vanderbilt