Kentucky vs. South Carolina: KSR Predicts Final Score, Will Levis Availability

Hello friends. It’s almost Football Time in the Bluegrass™. Kroger Field will host Kentucky vs. South Carolina Saturday night at Kroger Field, beginning just after 7:30 pm ET on the SEC Network. What will the final score be and is Will Levis going to play? The KSR staff weighs in.

Nick Roush

The pictures Kentucky shared on social media Thursday evening felt a little over the top. Sharing not one, but two pictures of Will Levis raises skepticism about his availability. That skepticism increased exponentially following Chris Low’s report. Even though it’s technically a game-time decision, it feels like they’ll operate with an abundance of caution.

Even if Levis does not play, Kentucky should beat South Carolina. The path to victory is clear: Start fast and run the damn ball. The Wildcats need to lighten the load on the quarterback by playing ahead and leaning on Chris Rodriguez. The Kentucky running back admitted he had to kick off a lot of rust against Ole Miss. Now 100% ready to roll, he has a porous South Carolina defense to run through all night at The Kroge.

Final Score: Kentucky 24, South Carolina 17

Will Levis Plays? No

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Tyler Thompson

Is Kentucky capable of beating South Carolina without Will Levis? Absolutely. However, I’d be lying if I said not having Levis — and potentially Jeremy Flax, Jacquez Jones, and JJ Weaver — doesn’t put me on edge. Kentucky has dominated the series vs. South Carolina, winning seven of the last eight and four straight at Kroger Field. The Cats are the superior football team, but the Gamecocks, led by stupid-sunglasses-wearing Shane Beamer, are desperate to turn the tide. If Kentucky wants to prove itself as a top-15 team, it will not let them, even without Levis and other injured starters.

As Nick said, this needs to be the Chris Rodriguez game. Give it to No. 24, make some room, and let him win the game for you, even if it’s ugly. Even if Kaiya Sheron is your starting quarterback. Levis seems like a true game-time decision and I’m sure will make every effort to go. I’ll lean toward him not playing just to brace myself for the possibility. A week ago, I was rooting for a rout of the Gamecocks; now, I’ll just be happy with a win, no matter what form it takes.

Final Score: Kentucky 24, South Carolina 21

Will Levis Plays? No

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Zack Geoghegan

Will Levis or no Will Levis, Kentucky will enter Saturday night as the more talented team. To echo my coworkers, this needs to be a Chris Rodriguez game regardless of Levis’s status. The brute running back is working his way back into game form and should run all over a South Carolina defense that is giving up 185 rushing yards per game, which ranks 106th in the country. C-Rod ran the ball 19 times against Ole Miss last weekend. His career-best is 27 — let’s break that against the Gamecocks.

Otherwise, I’m just not convinced this South Carolina offense can take advantage of even a banged-up Kentucky defense. Spencer Rattler has been the SEC’s worst quarterback through five games this season — he’s been equally as bad against intraconference opponents as he has the cupcakes. The final score might end up looking closer than what actually happens on the field, but I’m picking the ‘Cats to cruise.

Final Score: Kentucky 24, South Carolina 13

Will Levis Plays? No

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Adam Luckett

Heading into Saturday’s contest at Kroger Field, I really have no idea what to think. South Carolina has gotten the run game going, and their special teams have been spectacular but its been in home games against bad Charlotte (1-5, No. 124 in SP+) and FCS South Carolina State (1-3) squads. However, less is known about Kentucky.

I do not believe that QB1 will play on Saturday, and there is little known about redshirt freshman Kaiya Sheron other than he picked the Cats over Marshall while Louisville and West Virginia were showing some interest. The plan is clear for Rich Scangarello — run the ball and run the ball some more. However, Kentucky’s offensive line has been bad and will likely be without starting right tackle Jeremy Flax. Can this offensive front carry an offense after the Gamecocks adjust to the opening script that should include some easy completions from Sheron? I have my doubts.

Brad White’s defense has a lot on their plate this week, and they’ll be playing on Saturday without starters Jalen Geiger and Jacquez Jones with J.J. Weaver attempting to come back from an elbow injury. Add in that the Gamecocks got two extra days of preparation for some offensive and special teams wrinkles, and this feels like a bad spot for the home team.

The road underdog generates just enough scores to give Shane Beamer his first huge road win to re-ignite South Carolina’s season with the program’s first victory in Lexington since 2012.

Final Score: South Carolina 17, Kentucky 14

Will Levis Plays? No