KSR Today: Kentucky Hosts LSU at Kroger Field

by:Nick Roush•10/09/21•

RoushKSR

For the second straight week, a sold out crowd is prepared for a Saturday night party in Lexington. Kentucky hosts LSU at Kroger Field for the first time since 2007. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm ET on the SEC Network.

Kentucky is seeking its first 6-0 start since 1950. A reeling LSU team is standing in the Wildcats’ way of history.

LSU enters the matchup off a loss to Auburn, their first in the rivalry at Death Valley in 20+ years. The Tigers blew a nine-point fourth quarter, cranking up the heat on Ed Orgeron’s seat. Will the Tigers rally behind Coach O, or unravel when adversity strikes again? We do not know what their mentality is entering the game, just like we don’t know how much of a hangover Kentucky will suffer following the Florida win. We do know that both teams are missing starters ahead of this critical SEC matchup.

Injury Report

Kentucky will be without nose guard Marquan McCall for 4-6 weeks after Bully suffered a “lower extremity injury” early against Florida. Although not confirmed by UK, KSR does not expect wide receiver Josh Ali to play until after the bye week.

LSU will be missing as many as four defensive starters due to injury, including the top cornerback prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft, Derek Stingley. In addition to Stingley, the LSU secondary will be without starting safety Major Burns. Defensive end Andre Anthony is three weeks removed from a season-ending knee injury and word on the street is that defensive tackle Joseph Evans could be sidelined as well.

The Schedule

9:00 — Marty & McGee begin SEC Network coverage from Willy T.
3:30 — The KSR Pregame Show Kicks Off on 630 WLAP
4:30 — Lextran shuttles begin downtown and outside of KSBar
5:15 — The Cat Walk
7:30 — Kickoff on the SEC Network

Vegas, TV, Radio

This is a sentence I never expected to type. No. 14 Kentucky is a 3-point favorite over unranked LSU. Wow. The total is set for 51. The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS this season, only failing to cover against FCS Chattanooga. Under bettors have cashed tickets in the last two Kentucky games.

Tom Hart, Jordan Rogers and Cole Cubelic are in town for the first time this season, broadcasting the SEC Network Saturday night special. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm ET. If you’d rather listen to the Voice of the Wildcats, there are multiple ways to hear today’s game.

AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
FM: 98.1 WBUL
Satellite: XM-192 and Sirius-135
Online: iHeart Radio

Party like it’s 2007

Last week Waka Flocka was a special guest of the Kentucky football team. This week UK is bringing back heroes from one of the greatest wins in Kentucky football history. Stevie Johnson and Jacob Tamme are just a few of the former Wildcats expected to be at Kroger Field 14 years after they upset the top-ranked team in the country and eventual national champions.

Following his time at Kentucky, Tamme teamed up with former LSU running back Jacob Hester in Denver. Tamme often busted his chops in the Broncos locker room, asking Hester when his championship ring comes in the mail. Today is finally the day.

“I’m bringing the ’07 ring and Tamme and I are finally taking that picture on the sidelines there at Kroger Field,” Hester told KSR.

Get Hyped

We need you #BBN … again. #ForTheTeam 😼🏈 pic.twitter.com/yWHC184pF8
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 8, 2021

You might need more than a hype video. Let’s go ahead and relive some more moments from the 43-37 3OT win in 2007, shall we?

Today’s Uniforms

It’s not exactly a blackout, but it’s close. Kentucky will wear anthracite uniforms with the Chrome Domes. The Wildcats are 5-3 when wearing the all-grey uniforms under Mark Stoops.

Another Kentucky Football Commit

For the second straight week, Kentucky has picked up a football commit the day before kicking off at Kroger Field. Running back Kaden Moorman pledged his allegiance to the Wildcats, becoming the second member of Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class. Like the other 2023 commit, Ty Bryant, Moorman is a Kentucky kid. The Franklin County Flyer is a physical running back that can also catch passes and make plays in space. He picked Kentucky over Wisconsin days after watching the Wildcats upset Florida at Kroger Field.

Enormous Recruiting Guest List

Zack Geoghegan has compiled a guest list and updated it throughout the week, and boy, it just keeps growing and growing with talented underclassmen. There’s also a significant 2022 recruit expected to attend, offensive tackle Aamil Wagner. A small sample of who will be in town:

Chris Vizzina, 4-star QB from Georgia
Dakota Patterson, 4-star WR from Corbin
Raheim Jeter, 3-star QB from South Carolina
Saadiq Clements, 3-star DL from Henderson

Stoops and PAAAAAWWWWWL

The SEC Network has set up shop outside of William T. Young Library. They’ll be there getting you ready for the game from 9-noon. Yesterday Mark Stoops stopped by the set to talk to Paul Finebaum.

.@UKCoachStoops joined @finebaum on @SECNetwork live on the @universityofky campus!

📺 https://t.co/xGQuBUXORm pic.twitter.com/k1NueQwkND
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) October 8, 2021