KSR Staff Predictions: Kentucky vs. Auburn

by: KSR7 hours ago

kentucky-vs-auburn-ksr-staff-predictions-preview — Auburn cheerleaders lead out their team as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. - © Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kentucky and Auburn both have coaches on the hot seat. The Cats are still winless in SEC play, but the Tigers got their first SEC victory last week, a 33-24 thriller at Arkansas. The losing coach may literally be sent packing after this high-stakes game on The Plains.

All four of Auburn’s losses were to ranked SEC teams, the most recent vs. then-No. 16 Missouri in double overtime. Kentucky got trampled by No. 17 Tennessee last Saturday at Kroger Field. The Cats’ offense is showing signs of life, but just as the defense is regressing. There are a lot of personnel questions in this one. Who will the Tigers start at quarterback, Jackson Arnold or Ashton Daniels? Will Kentucky’s star running back Seth McGowan be able to play? The same goes for Auburn’s talented wide receiver Cam Coleman.

Ready or not, the KSR crew is ready to weigh in on Saturday’s game, a 7:30 p.m. ET kick on SEC Network.

Nick Roush

Auburn is one of six teams in the country who has not given up more than 24 points in a game this fall. If Seth McGowan is good to go, that streak is ending on Saturday.

Kentucky has found something on offense. Cutter Boley has grown in each and every start, and that’s not slowing down on The Plains. The Kentucky defense, well, that’s a different story.

The Wildcats have actually done a good job of stopping traditional rushing attacks. Quarterbacks have posed a problem with their legs, but it’s usually off broken plays, not like the designed runs that Auburn will run on Saturday.

Hugh Freeze is on the Hot Seat because he can’t figure out the Tigers’ passing attack. He will not reveal who the quarterback is ahead of the game against Kentucky. Against this secondary, it does not matter. Auburn has two impressive athletes on the outside, Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton. You can expect both to turn short passes into explosive plays, and make incredible contested catches at the point of attack. It’s creating a recipe for a surprising shootout, but one where Kentucky comes up short.

Score: Auburn 34, Kentucky 27

Drew Franklin

The thing about Kentucky Football is, when you think you’re down, it will hit you again to knock you further down. However, there are also those times under Mark Stoops when fans have given up on him, and he’s responded with his back against the ropes. I think we’ll see a combo of both on Saturday, ending with one more punch to the gut of those who love the Wildcats the most. Kentucky Football fans.

My prediction: the Cats will look good for most of the night on the Plains, led by Cutter Boley and that Fountain of Youth that Bush Hamdan tapped into. However, it will all come crashing down in the fourth quarter in some maddening collapse. I sure would love to be wrong, though.

Put me down for Auburn winning a close one at home to keep Kentucky winless in the SEC.

Score: Auburn 31, Kentucky 30

Adam Luckett

This week’s SEC game at Jordan-Hare Stadium will include a team that ranks sub-100 in just about every notable passing statistic, is 2-9 in one-possession games since 2022, and has a two offensive touchdowns or less streak riding in conference play.

That team is not Kentucky. The Cats are setting up to be a very live dog on the Plains.

UK enters this matchup as a double-digit underdog, but has the better quarterback, and seems to be the winner of this week’s styles make fights clash. Auburn will try to be run-heavy against Kentucky’s good run defense. Kentucky will be pass-heavy against Auburn’s leaky pass defense. This is an advantageous matchup for the road team.

Kentucky rolls into Toomer’s Corner and steals a win. Auburn has consistently found ways to lose under Freeze and has struggled as a home favorite (4-9 ATS, 5 upset losses). That all plays out Saturday as Boley has another big day, and Brad White’s defense gets opportunistic against an Auburn offense that will struggle to exploit UK’s weaknesses.

For the fifth year in a row, UK will win a game outright on the road as a dog.

Score: Kentucky 23, Auburn 20

Jacob Polacheck

Another week of picking Kentucky to lose. Sorry. Kentucky hasn’t looked good in recent weeks, and I have a hard time seeing that change, even against an Auburn team that’s lost four of its last five games.

Seth McGowan could be poised for a big game, and Cutter Boley has shone recently. However, with Hugh Freeze on the hot seat, Auburn will have a lot to play for.

Kentucky is likely to keep this close, but in the end, I’m predicting Auburn to prevail. While Kentucky’s offense has looked better recently, the defense has not, and that isn’t enough to give me confidence.

Score: Auburn 30, Kentucky 21

Tyler Thompson

Auburn’s also got a coach on the hot seat and a restless fanbase, but the Tigers have still managed to win an SEC game, taking down Arkansas in a wild one last week in Fayetteville. Auburn backup quarterback Ashton Daniels saved the day in that game and could get the start Saturday night.

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

There is a path to victory if Kentucky’s defense can rise to the challenge. The offense has taken a clear step forward in recent weeks, with Cutter Boley setting a Kentucky freshman record last week with five touchdowns vs. Tennessee, most to emerging playmakers. If both units perform on The Plains, Kentucky is capable of winning this game. Stoops also has a history of winning one when you least expect it. I feel like we’ve been waiting for both to happen all season just to be disappointed.

Given the way things are going right now, my head won’t let my heart pick the win this team so desperately needs. Kentucky will follow the script of keeping things close early on before the Tigers eventually take control, with fewer and fewer eyes staying open as the fourth quarter drags on.

Score: Auburn 28, Kentucky 17

Zack Geoghegan

The Hot Seat Bowl features two teams in desperate need of a win. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was able to keep himself employed for another week by knocking off a bad Arkansas team. A loss against this Kentucky team might be the final nail in the coffin. The same could be said for Mark Stoops, who is staring down a 0-6 SEC record if things go south on Saturday.

I expect a bounce-back performance from Brad White’s Kentucky defense after giving up a billion points to Tennessee, even with some key injuries to the secondary. Prior to beating Arkansas, the Tigers hadn’t scored more than 17 points against an SEC team, although that came against all ranked opponents. Auburn, expected to use two quarterbacks, will hit enough of a groove in the run game to score a couple of touchdowns.

I also expect another step in improvement from QB Cutter Boley, who continues to get better every game. Auburn boasts a stout run defense, but struggles to keep teams from throwing the ball around. Boley will find success in the pass game. But scoring more than 21 points against the Tigers hasn’t exactly been easy this season. Kentucky will experience that first-hand on Saturday in a one-score loss.

Score: Auburn 23, Kentucky 17

Jack Pilgrim

I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I hate picking losses and I hate weighing the greater good of what’s best for the future of Kentucky football compared to short-term wins potentially separating a bad season from a horrible season under Mark Stoops, the absolute ceiling being a mediocre finish. We’re better than this. We deserve more than a full-circle culture reset of begging to get back to bowl games when we’re just a few years removed from talking about what it’d take to get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Excuses for the slippage are lame.

I’ll still be in blue and white, hooting and hollering just like I always am, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the current state of the program or believe things will magically improve with hard work and motivation. Fascinatingly enough, we’re taking on an Auburn team in the exact same spot, fans disgruntled and ready for change, potentially one loss away from that becoming a reality. If you were to give both sides truth serum, what result would the two fanbases actually prefer? Is this the Loser Actually Wins Bowl?

I want to see the young guys ball out, led by Cutter Boley and his up-and-coming playmakers. I want to see Seth McGowan bulldoze his way into the third level like it’s his last snap every time he touches the football. There are bright spots to enjoy while understanding the end is near overall, Auburn simply better on Saturday to send the worst team in the SEC home with another loss.

Score: Auburn 24, Kentucky 13

Country Boy’s Prediction

A guaranteed good time with an ice-cold Orange Cream Cider. Reminiscent of your favorite frozen treat, Orange Cream Cider is packed with flavor and 100% gluten-free.