Kentucky will go to Nashville as the underdog vs. Vanderbilt

With two games left to win one (and reach a bowl game in the process), Kentucky will go into the first opportunity as a road underdog.

According to our friends at BetMGM, the Wildcats enter next weekend’s showdown in Nashville as 9.5-point underdogs against Vanderbilt. The point total has been set at 53.5, projecting an estimated final score of roughly 31-22 in favor of the Commodores at FirstBank Stadium.

Kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 22, is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. SEC Nation will set up shop as the pregame entertainment, the first time this season that Kentucky will be featured on the weekly show, and the second for Vanderbilt.

It’s no shock to see Kentucky as the road dog here. Vanderbilt, now up to No. 12 in the latest AP Poll, is sitting on an 8-2 record (4-2 SEC) and has real aspirations to make the College Football Playoff. This is one of the best offenses in the entire country. The Commodores have Kentucky and No. 20 Tennessee left on their schedule — winning both games could very well put them in the CFP. The Wildcats are out to play spoiler.

But they’re also out to make a bowl game. Kentucky is now 5-5 (2-5 SEC) on the season after winning three straight, including Saturday’s 42-10 drumming of Tennessee Tech, a top 10 FCS program. Mark Stoops has his team playing its best football of the season at an ideal time. It felt nearly impossible just a few weeks ago, but UK is now only one win away from going bowling.

Looking at some of the fancy numbers, the ESPN Analytics gives Vanderbilt a 76.5 percent chance of beating Kentucky. But at the same time, ESPN’s Football Power Index gives UK a 58.2 percent chance to win one of its final two games this season against Vandy and Louisville. Kentucky also has a 10.4 percent chance of winning out — so yes, we’re telling you there IS a chance!

There haven’t been many significant games in the history of the Kentucky-Vanderbilt football series, but this one will meet the criteria.