KSR GAMEDAY: A High-Stakes Affair Between Kentucky and Vanderbilt
For years, Kentucky and Vanderbilt were nothing more than punchlines around the SEC. Today, the two will play in the conference’s biggest game of the week.
The stakes are high for both programs. Kentucky is a win away from bowl eligibility. Even though they’ve won three straight games, the resume lacks a signature win. A victory over the No. 14 Commodores would do just that.
Vanderbilt has lofty goals. The Commodores have not lost at home this season. They have their eyes on the College Football Playoff, and their first 9-win regular season since 1915. Diego Pavia has injected life into the program, and today he gets to play in front of a sold-out crowd in Nashville for the final time.
The Vanderbilt quarterback is a playmaker who seems to always find a way to make the big play that puts them over the top, even when the defense is getting gashed. They are built similarly to Kentucky, a physical team that prefers to play a ball-control style of offense. Possessions will be at a premium. A turnover could cost either team the game.
The stars are aligning for a close, stressful game for each fanbase. Which team will step up and make the winning plays in critical situations? Prepare for fireworks in Nashville.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt: How to Watch/Listen
- Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN (Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, and Quint Kessenich)
- Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro, Dick Gabriel)
- AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
- FM: 98.1 WBUL
- Online: iHeart Radio
- Sirius XM: 390
You can also follow along on the KSR LIVE BLOG, which will start a few hours before kickoff, and join the conversation on KSBoard.
Take advantage of our KSR+ Introductory Offer to get bonus coverage of the Cats, including game threads, in-depth scouting reports, and the latest recruiting and roster intel. $1 for a week.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Gambling Angles and Trends
Kentucky is currently an 8.5-point underdog on BetMGM, with a total of 54.5. Over the last 10 meetings, the underdog is 6-4 Against the Spread (ATS) with three outright upsets. The Commodores are 17-6 ATS with Diego Pavia at quarterback. In his career as a starter, Pavia is 35-15-1 ATS. UK is 9-5 ATS as a road dog since 2021.
[Read the KSR Plus Scouting Report on Vanderbilt.]
Saturday Gameday Schedule
The SEC Network is bringing its traveling road show to Nashville for the game of the week. Marty and McGee will get the ball rolling on Alumni Lawn at 9 AM ET, followed by the 2-hour pregame show with Laura Rutledge, Tim Tebow, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers, and Paul Finebaum. Kentucky is 5-13 in SEC Nation games, but Vanderbilt has an even worse record at 0-6.
9:00 am — Marty and McGee
10:00 am — SEC Nation
11:00 am — Doors Open at KSBar and Grille
11:30 am — The KSR Pregame Show
1:15 — Cat Walk near Gate 1
1:30 — Gates Open at FirstBank Stadium
3:30 — Kickoff on ESPN
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Today’s Uniforms
Vanderbilt is wearing all-black in its final home game of the season with gold helmets. The Wildcats will have darker colors too, pairing blue pants and helmets with their white road jerseys. The last time Kentucky wore this uniform combo, they got a victory on The Plains for just the third time in school history. Under Mark Stoops, Kentucky is 7-20 in white jerseys with blue pants, 1-1 this season.
Kentucky WBB at UofL
Before you watch the Wildcats on the gridiron, turn your television to The CW. No. 20 Kentucky is traveling to No. 21 Louisville for a rivalry game at the KFC Yum! Center. Kenny Brooks’ first signature win as the Kentucky head coach was an overtime victory over Louisville. The Cats lead the series 35-24, but had lost seven straight before Brooks arrived in Lexington. Can Clara Strack and Co. start a winning streak in this series? The action tips off at 2 PM ET.
Pope’s Cats Manhandle Loyola
Mark Pope shook up the starting lineup — moving Malachi Moreno in for Brandon Garrison and playing Kam Williams for the injured Mo Dioubate — and the Cats came out firing. Kentucky lit up Loyola with eight first-half threes to take a 30-point lead, before cruising to an 88-46 win. Five Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Collin Chandler, who went 3-6 from downtown. After Michigan State tore up the Kentucky defense, the Wildcats held Loyola to just 18-62 (29%) from the field
More from the UK Win
Mark Pope was unwilling to provide any timeline on when Dioubate may be able to return to the hardwood after suffering a “nasty” ankle sprain. The good news is that Jayden Quaintance is “making real progress,” now cleared for 2-on-2 work.
Moreno Thrives, BG Responds, “The Best Story of the Night
Otega Oweh Brought the Defense Back
Pope says he’s “Pissy, but Good” as Kentucky digs out of early season hole
Takeaways from Kentucky’s Responsive Win
With Plenty of Moving Parts, Collin Chandler has become a Constant
Players Speak after the Game
Pope’s Postgame Presser
Denzel Aberdeen’s Rebounding Impresses Loyola’s Coach
Kam Williams Stepped Up in Breakout Performance
Enjoy Highlights from the Victory
Drew Franklin really wants to see Walker Horn net a three-pointer this year. He also wants you to watch last night’s Rapid Reaction, which was unlike any other. Instead of LIVE from the game, we went LIVE from a Nashville establishment ahead of Kentucky’s game with Vanderbilt. There was plenty of basketball talk, but also a few football takes from one of the best in the SEC.
College Football on TV
| Kansas at Iowa State | Noon | FS1 |
| No. 13 Miami at Virginia Tech | Noon | ESPN |
| Louisville at SMU | Noon | ESPN2 |
| Rutgers at No. 1 Ohio State | Noon | FOX |
| Minnesota at Northwestern (Wrigley Field) | Noon | Big Ten Network |
| No. 22 Missouri at No. 8 Oklahoma | Noon | ABC |
| Charlotte at No. 4 Georgia | 12:45pm | SEC Network |
| Baylor at Arizona | 1:00pm | TNT |
| Duke at North Carolina | 3:30pm | ACC Network |
| Syracuse at No. 9 Notre Dame | 3:30pm | NBC |
| No. 15 USC at No. 7 Oregon | 3:30pm | CBS |
| Kentucky at No. 14 Vanderbilt | 3:30pm | ESPN |
| Michigan State at Iowa | 3:30pm | FS1 |
| Arkansas at No. 17 Texas | 3:30pm | ABC |
| No. 24 Tulane at Temple | 3:45pm | ESPNU |
| TCU at No. 23 Houston | 4:00pm | FOX |
| No. 18 Michigan at Maryland | 4:00pm | Big Ten Network |
| Kansas State at No. 12 Utah | 4:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Coastal Carolina at South Carolina | 4:15pm | SEC Network |
| Furman at Clemson | 4:15pm | The CW |
| Pittsburgh at No. 16 Georgia Tech | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Colorado State at Boise State | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| New Mexico at Air Force | 7:00pm | CBS Sports Network |
| No. 21 Illinois at Wisconsin | 7:30pm | Big Ten Network |
| Nebraska at Penn State | 7:30pm | NBC |
| No. 20 Tennessee at Florida | 7:30pm | ABC |
| California at Stanford | 7:30pm | ACC Network |
| North Texas at Rice | 7:30pm | ESPNU |
| WKU at LSU | 7:45pm | SEC Network |
| No. 25 Arizona State at Colorado | 8:00pm | ESPN2 |
| No. 11 BYU at Cincinnati | 8:00pm | FOX |
| Washington at UCLA | 10:30pm | NBC |
| San Jose State at San Diego State | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| Utah State at Fresno State | 10:30pm | CBS Sports Network |
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