It's been one of those 12-step program weeks for me. Kentucky's three-point loss to Georgia continues to linger. Hopefully, the Cats have done a better job of forgetting about it than some of us. UK heads to Knoxville this week to battle the Vols. Kentucky's last win in K-town took place 32 years ago. Breaking the long losing streak wont be easy. For whatever reason, UT always seems to play good football against UK. On the flip side, Kentucky can never really seem to catch a break in this game. UK's only win against Tennessee since 1984 was back in 2011 when they started a WR at quarterback! Maybe Stoops should put Badet in the wildcat on the first play of the game!!!! The winner stays alive in the SEC East race. For the Cats, they probably need to win this one to finish with seven regular season wins, a number that would mark significant progress in the Stoops rebuilding effort.
Line: Kentucky +14
Series: Tennessee leads 78-24-9
Game Time/Television: Noon/SEC Network
Kentucky offense vs. Tennessee defense: Advantage Kentucky
Last week's offensive performance against Georgia was kind of a mixed bag. Predictably, UK didn't run the ball as well as they had been. UGA has one of the better defensive fronts in the league after all. The Cats failed to become two dimensional. They made critical mistakes. The dropped TD pass by Badet was monumental. Hopefully, they can clean up the errors this week. Kentucky matches up well with a beat up Tennessee defense. The Vols rush defense has struggled to stop the big play this year. With Boom/Benny on the prowl, things won't get any easier for UT. Eddie Gran and Stephen Johnson have mostly failed to take advantage of CJ Conrad's big time talent at TE. He hasn't had a boatload of plays called for him, and when he has, Johnson seems to miss him more often than not. This is a matchup that Conrad would really dominate (middle of the field). Really, this matchup is more about UK than UT IMO. The Vols defensive front is thin. Kentucky should be able to wear Tennessee down. It's just a matter of making fewer game changing mistakes, and that's something UK has had a tough time avoiding. Maybe this will be the week.
Kentucky defense vs. Tennessee offense: Advantage Tennessee
The improving Cats defense took a slight step back last week. Georgia didn't dominate in the least, but they were able to run the football about as well as they have in a long time. Their struggling passing game also improved. Like Georgia, the UT offense has struggled at times. Unfortunately for UK though, Tennessee still has Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs has struggled with accuracy this season in the passing game, but he's a dual threat guy. Kentucky is one of those schools that manages to make almost every dual threat QB look like Lamar Jackson. If Mississippi State was able to gash UK in the run game with their QB, what will UT do to the Cats? John Kelly has looked good running the football as well. And of course, it looks like Alvin Kamara might be back. Like Georgie, UT likes to throw to their backs. The biggest thing with this matchup is pretty easy to identify...Dobbs in the running game. Overall, UT hasn't established a dominant running game (ranking 75th nationally...UK is 31st), but I have a feeling they'll probably surpass their average of 167 yards per game. If so, Kentucky is in trouble. If UK keeps Dobbs in the backfield, they'll be in good shape.
Special Teams: Slight advantage Kentucky
The loss of Evan Berry is big. UT's star kick returner ranks 2nd nationally at almost 33 yards per return. UK has been good in the return game. For whatever reason, Kentucky's punting has totally fallen apart while UT has one of the better punters in the nation. I give UK the edge because of MacGinnis.
Kentucky will win if...the defense controls Dobbs and the offense cuts out big mistakes.
Tennessee will win if...Dobbs does to UK what he typically does to UK. On defense, keep Kentucky in 3rd and intermediate/long. Force Stephen Johnson to make plays in the passing game.
Prediction...Tennessee 34 Kentucky 27...Kentucky is capable of winning this one, but not if they keep shooting themselves in the foot. For whatever reason, big mistakes on offense has become a staple of this years team. Dobbs is another factor. The UT QB is a tough matchup for Kentucky. I think UK gives themselves a chance to win, but on the road at rocky top, they'll probably come up short.
Previous picks
(7-2 S/U, 5-4 ATS)
Kentucky 31 Southern Mississippi 27
Florida 23 Kentucky10
Kentucky 48 New Mexico State 13
Kentucky 31 South Carolina 26
Alabama 55 Kentucky 7
Kentucky 23 Vanderbilt 13
Kentucky 20 Mississippi State 17
Kentucky 41 Missouri 31
Kentucky 24 Georgia 17
GBB!!!
Line: Kentucky +14
Series: Tennessee leads 78-24-9
Game Time/Television: Noon/SEC Network
Kentucky offense vs. Tennessee defense: Advantage Kentucky
Last week's offensive performance against Georgia was kind of a mixed bag. Predictably, UK didn't run the ball as well as they had been. UGA has one of the better defensive fronts in the league after all. The Cats failed to become two dimensional. They made critical mistakes. The dropped TD pass by Badet was monumental. Hopefully, they can clean up the errors this week. Kentucky matches up well with a beat up Tennessee defense. The Vols rush defense has struggled to stop the big play this year. With Boom/Benny on the prowl, things won't get any easier for UT. Eddie Gran and Stephen Johnson have mostly failed to take advantage of CJ Conrad's big time talent at TE. He hasn't had a boatload of plays called for him, and when he has, Johnson seems to miss him more often than not. This is a matchup that Conrad would really dominate (middle of the field). Really, this matchup is more about UK than UT IMO. The Vols defensive front is thin. Kentucky should be able to wear Tennessee down. It's just a matter of making fewer game changing mistakes, and that's something UK has had a tough time avoiding. Maybe this will be the week.
Kentucky defense vs. Tennessee offense: Advantage Tennessee
The improving Cats defense took a slight step back last week. Georgia didn't dominate in the least, but they were able to run the football about as well as they have in a long time. Their struggling passing game also improved. Like Georgia, the UT offense has struggled at times. Unfortunately for UK though, Tennessee still has Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs has struggled with accuracy this season in the passing game, but he's a dual threat guy. Kentucky is one of those schools that manages to make almost every dual threat QB look like Lamar Jackson. If Mississippi State was able to gash UK in the run game with their QB, what will UT do to the Cats? John Kelly has looked good running the football as well. And of course, it looks like Alvin Kamara might be back. Like Georgie, UT likes to throw to their backs. The biggest thing with this matchup is pretty easy to identify...Dobbs in the running game. Overall, UT hasn't established a dominant running game (ranking 75th nationally...UK is 31st), but I have a feeling they'll probably surpass their average of 167 yards per game. If so, Kentucky is in trouble. If UK keeps Dobbs in the backfield, they'll be in good shape.
Special Teams: Slight advantage Kentucky
The loss of Evan Berry is big. UT's star kick returner ranks 2nd nationally at almost 33 yards per return. UK has been good in the return game. For whatever reason, Kentucky's punting has totally fallen apart while UT has one of the better punters in the nation. I give UK the edge because of MacGinnis.
Kentucky will win if...the defense controls Dobbs and the offense cuts out big mistakes.
Tennessee will win if...Dobbs does to UK what he typically does to UK. On defense, keep Kentucky in 3rd and intermediate/long. Force Stephen Johnson to make plays in the passing game.
Prediction...Tennessee 34 Kentucky 27...Kentucky is capable of winning this one, but not if they keep shooting themselves in the foot. For whatever reason, big mistakes on offense has become a staple of this years team. Dobbs is another factor. The UT QB is a tough matchup for Kentucky. I think UK gives themselves a chance to win, but on the road at rocky top, they'll probably come up short.
Previous picks
(7-2 S/U, 5-4 ATS)
Kentucky 31 Southern Mississippi 27
Florida 23 Kentucky10
Kentucky 48 New Mexico State 13
Kentucky 31 South Carolina 26
Alabama 55 Kentucky 7
Kentucky 23 Vanderbilt 13
Kentucky 20 Mississippi State 17
Kentucky 41 Missouri 31
Kentucky 24 Georgia 17
GBB!!!
