Kentucky Football: ESPN releases game-by-game predictions for every Wildcats game in 2022

Kentucky football has plenty of expectations entering the 2022 season. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum recently picked the Wildcats as the SEC’s most likely contender outside of Alabama and Georgia. Mark Stoops and Will Levis will lead Kentucky into a hyped up, 12 game run at the SEC East and, potentially, the SEC Championship in Atlanta.

ESPN recently released their Football Power Index (FPI) predictions for the upcoming season. Their percentages have the Wildcats favored in three quarters of their games.

Miami (OH) (Home): 9/3 at 7:00 p.m. on SEC Network +

ESPN FPI win probability: 93.3%

Florida (Away): 9/10 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN

ESPN FPI win probability: 48.9%

Youngstown State (Home): 9/17 at 12:00 p.m. on SEC Network

ESPN FPI win probability: 98.2%

Northern Illinois (Home): 9/24 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 95.1%

Ole Miss (Away): 10/1 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 40.1%

South Carolina (Home): 10/8 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 76.5%

Mississippi State (Home): 10/15 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 63%

Tennessee (Away): 10/29 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 52.6%

Missouri (Away): 11/5 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 70.1%

Vanderbilt (Home): 11/12 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 94.8%

Georgia (Home): 11/19 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 16.7%

Louisville (Home): 11/26 at TBD on TBD

ESPN FPI win probability: 70.9%

Kentucky is a majority favored in their early season matchups over Miami (OH), Youngstown State, and Northern Illinois. The Wildcats are also favored against SEC competition in South Carolina, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Vanderbilt. ESPN projects Kentucky as a pick ’em or a slight underdog against Florida, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Their longest odds come against Georgia where the Bulldogs are favored by 83.3% in Lexington. Finally, the Wildcats end the season with 70.9% odds against Louisville.

The Wildcats have made six straight postseasons and have presently won four straight bowl games. Now it’s time for Stoops’ team to take the next step after also winning double digit games two of the last four seasons. How Kentucky’s schedule plays out will determine their chances at doing so this fall.