Kentucky vs. Akron: KSR Staff Predictions

by:KSR•09/15/23

After a lackluster showing vs. EKU, Kentucky has a chance to finish the first phase of the season strong before starting SEC play next week. Akron, coached by former Mississippi State head man Joe Moorhead, comes to town Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. EST kick on ESPNU. The Zips are considered one of the worst teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, coming in at No. 128 and No. 130 in The Athletic and CBS Sports‘ rankings. They’re 1-1 this season, losing to Temple 24-21 in Week 1 and beating Morgan State by the same score last week.

Kentucky should handle the Zips easily on Saturday night, but we said the same thing about EKU last week. Needless to say, the KSR staff whiffed on our predictions for the Cats vs. the Colonels. Zack Geoghegan came closest, calling for a final score of 41-10, but even that was pretty far off from the actual tally of 28-17. Here’s hoping we — and Kentucky — get back on track this week vs. Akron.

Tyler Thompson

Last week, I called for Kentucky to come out of the gates quickly and clean up the mistakes from Week 1; that did not happen. Will it after another week of practice and film study? I sure hope so.

Akron is not a good football team and provides the perfect opportunity for the Cats to get some momentum rolling heading into SEC play. Devin Leary needs to build off a very strong second-half performance vs. the Colonels (10-13, 174 yards, 3 TDs), but I’d like to see more touches for Ray Davis too. If Kentucky starts the game hot, they can maintain control with the ground game.

Joe Moorhead may be known for his creative playcalling, but the Zips don’t yet have the talent to bring it to fruition. Brad White’s defense should feast. I’d like to see strong consistent effort from both sides of the ball. Complementary football has been too much to ask for thus far this season; here’s hoping it’s not on Saturday night.

Score: Kentucky 45, Akron 10

Nick Roush

We all predicted big wins a week ago. Surely we’re not wrong again, right?

It’s felt like Kentucky has been playing with its food through two weeks, particularly on offense. On 11 Personnel Luckett described the first half play-calling as a passing team period. They’re asking Leary to throw the ball all over the yard and it can’t be making the head coach too happy.

Kentucky gets back on track offensively by getting back to the ground game and giving opportunities to Ray Davis and Ramon Jefferson. The Cats will stay ahead of the chains and give the offense easy downs and distances to open up the playbook for Liam Coen to dial up explosives.

This is the worst team on Kentucky’s schedule. The Cats need to take care of business with a big win.

Score: Kentucky 50, Akron 10

Zack Geoghegan

Akron ranks 131 out of 133 Division I teams in ESPN’s latest Football Power Index update. As Nick mentioned, the Zips are the worst team Kentucky will play this year. At least with EKU, the Colonels had the proximity factor and came in with something to prove against an FBS opponent. With Akron, they’ll just want to prove they can send out a reliable quarterback for four quarters.

Slow starts have been the trend through two games for UK. I would like to see that bucked in the opening few drives. I expect Devin Leary to put it together from start to finish. This is the final “tune-up” game before the meat of the schedule kicks in. Don’t be surprised if Liam Coen throws the ball more than he runs it for the third straight game.

I have no concerns with the Kentucky defense against Akron. What I would like to see more of though is havoc plays. Five sacks through two games is good not great. The secondary could use a big performance, as well. But regardless, the Wildcats will have very little issue taking down the Zips and moving to 3-0.

Score: Kentucky 38, Akron 7

Drew Franklin

There’s an old saying in gambling: when you’re down, double down. It’s not the best advice you’ll ever receive, but this week I am taking it to heart with a double-down on Kentucky’s offense. Last week, I predicted Devin Leary and Co. would have 30 by halftime against EKU’s FCS defense. Kentucky didn’t score 30 the entire game, so that prediction went pretty wide left of its mark and into the parking lot.

But this week, I am running it back with more high expectations for an offense that hasn’t played four good quarters. Against Akron, Leary and his wide receivers will finally get on the same page in the beginning, leading to long touchdown-scoring drives. The Cats will pick up the tempo from incredibly slow to regularly slow, thus getting more carries for the running backs, too.

Throw in three takeaways for Kentucky’s defense, and it’s a blowout.

Score: Kentucky 45, Akron 13

Jack Pilgrim

It’s on like Donkey Kong. Sloppy starts two weeks in a row to open the season, a clear point of emphasis among coaches and players to get fixed in the final tune-up before SEC play.

That leaves a very bad Akron team preparing for a world of hurt against the Kentucky Wildcats. Devin Leary gives his best all-around performance with 350 passing yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions while the running backs split up three scores — one for Ray Davis, one for Ramon Jefferson and one for JuTahn McClain.

It’ll be a defensive clinic put on by Brad White, the Wildcats combining for 10 tackles for loss and five sacks, allowing a late touchdown against backups for the ultimate feel-good win ahead of SEC play.

Score: Kentucky 56, Akron 7

Adam Luckett

Week 3 has arrived to serve as the final tune-up for Kentucky before a stretch of eight consecutive SEC games. The Wildcats are still looking for their first complete complementary football performance in live action. Does that happen on Saturday night at Kroger Field?

We’ll see.

I expect Kentucky to likely get off to another up-and-down offensive start as Akron has done some good things rushing the passer combined with a salty secondary. However, the offense will settle in quicker than last week. Devin Leary throws for over 300 yards, Ray Davis has another solid outing on the ground, and Akron gets a cheap score in the fourth quarter.

Kentucky covers in a game that the fan base will feel better about but we really won’t find out who this team is until they go to Nashville next week.

Score: Kentucky 42, Akron 14

Got thoughts? Continue the conversation on KSBoard, the KSR Message Board. New members can try 1 month for $1.