KSR Staff Predictions: Kentucky vs. Tennessee

by: KSR6 hours ago

Tennessee Volunteer mascot Smokey - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

They low-down. They dirty. They some snitches. On Saturday night, they’re coming to Kroger Field. No. 17 Tennessee is bringing its trademark high-powered offense that ranks second nationally in scoring. Kentucky has not been able to keep up with Josh Heupel, losing four straight in this series.

Can Mark Stoops give Big Blue Nation a reason to rejoice in the border battle for the beer barrel? The KSR crew weighs in…

Adam Luckett

Can Kentucky get off the mat again? I’m betting yes. Will it be enough to finally beat Tennessee again? I’m betting no.

Styles makes fights in college football. Texas’ conservative offensive strategy and defensive philosophy played right into Kentucky’s hands. The Horns were just fine with playing in a puntfest to see which offense or special teams unit would make the first big mistake. Steve Sarkisian’s team played with fire. The Vols will not do that.

Tennessee will try to turn this into a track meet. They will spread Kentucky out, negate the pass rush, and make UK tackle in space. Kentucky’s defense will be forced to play out of their comfort zone. That will lead the Vols to scoring 30-plus points. However, the Kentucky offense will keep them in the game.

Tennessee is legitimately bad on defense. Kentucky’s run game should find some success for the first time in October. Cutter Boley keeps improving. The UK passing game is starting to gain confidence. The Cats go over 400 total yards again and finally break that two touchdowns or less streak. But it won’t be enough.

This is a one-possession game into the fourth quarter. Tennessee pulls away late. UK will have numerous chances to win this game but we know how this series goes.

Score: Tennessee 35, Kentucky 24

Nick Roush

Gloom. Despair. Agony.

Kentucky is playing Tennessee, and I hate it so much. We all know how this story goes. We’ve seen it time and time again. Even though Kentucky is probably going to score some points, a familiar result awaits.

Tennessee has been without its projected cornerbacks for the entire season. Even though they get pressure on opposing quarterbacks (26.0 sacks, second in the SEC), it’s a great opportunity for the Kentucky quarterback to cut her loose.

Cutter Boley has steadily improved every single Saturday since the start of SEC play. The one thing missing? Punching it into the end zone. As we shared on 11 Personnel this week, the long drought of SEC games without two touchdowns will come to an end at Kroger Field, but in a losing effort. That’s just what happens when these teams play. I refuse to get my hopes up. Sorry.

Score: Tennessee 31, Kentucky 17

Jacob Polacheck

Kentucky narrowly lost to Texas in overtime last week, and the schedule doesn’t slow down from here. Next up, the Tennessee Volunteers, who are coming off a 17-point loss to Alabama last week.

Tennessee has one of the best offenses in the nation, ranking third in the nation in points per game. Kentucky’s defense has stood up strong at times, but has shown some cracks. I’m expecting Tennessee’s offense to keep on churning.

As for Kentucky’s offense, the Cats haven’t scored more than 23 points in an SEC game this year. This could be their opportunity, and I expect them to continue to rely on running back Seth McGowan. However, I’m predicting a 30-14 Tennessee win against a Kentucky team that the Vols have become used to handling.

Score: Tennessee 30, Kentucky 14

Tyler Thompson

Kentucky surprised me by putting up a heck of a fight vs. Texas. Even without decades of Tennessee misery coloring my view, I worry this matchup won’t be favorable to the Cats.

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Tennessee plays fast. The Volunteers aren’t quite as potent as years past, but they will put up points, to the point that even if Kentucky’s defense does an admirable job, the offense will have to keep up for the Cats to have a shot. Cutter Boley got things rolling vs. a very good Texas defense last week. Can he do the same against a good Tennessee defense?

I sure hope so, but I’ve seen this game enough times to know how it goes. Hopefully, Kentucky keeps it close enough to be respectable, and the team doesn’t throw in the towel. We’re in a weird spot right now, playing the waiting game when it comes to the future of the program, but there’s still a lot of football to be played.

Score: Tennessee 34, Kentucky 17

Drew Franklin

Kentucky has to be tired of hearing about the streaks. Ten straight home losses to Power 4 opponents, nine straight in the SEC, and only three wins over Tennessee since 1984. The Wildcats showed real progress last week in the overtime loss to Texas, particularly on offense, where Cutter Boley looked more comfortable and composed than at any point this season. If that version of Kentucky shows up again, Kroger Field could finally get the kind of performance it has been waiting for.

The problem is Tennessee’s offense. The Vols score too efficiently, move too fast, and have too many weapons for Kentucky to grind out a low-scoring win. For the Wildcats to have a chance, they will need to climb into the mid-to-high twenties, and nothing this offense has done suggests that is realistic yet. Kentucky fights, hangs around, maybe even flirts with an upset in the second half, but the Vols pull away late to hand Mark Stoops another painful home loss.

Score: Tennessee 27, Kentucky 20

Jack Pilgrim

Tennessee is one loss away from being kicked out of the College Football Playoff hunt and Josh Heupel — now 4-0 against Kentucky — ain’t letting this one be different. The Wildcats destroyed the Texas Longhorns in every category but the win column and that’s too demoralizing to overcome in a week, especially with fans letting their anger turn to apathy with zero Power 4 home wins since September 2023 and nine straight SEC losses overall. That was the one and Mark Stoops let it slip through his fingers. Now, all eyes are on his future in Lexington. Will he use this opportunity to convince decision-makers that a turnaround is possible? Absolutely not.

Cutter Boley continues to make positive strides and prove his individual future is bright (hopefully in Lexington), but a few early scores from the lethal Volunteer offense put out the defensive fire under Brad White after a standout effort last week against the ‘Horns. Starters are pulled in the fourth quarter and we watch the clock strike midnight on this era of Kentucky football. Movement starts on Sunday.

Score: Tennessee 46, Kentucky 10

Zack Geoghegan

I agree with my friend Nick Roush in that Kentucky should finally manage two offensive touchdowns in this one. Tennessee’s defense is among the worst in the SEC, giving up 390 yards per contest. Only Arkansas is below the Vols in that category. Cutter Boley is coming off his best game yet, and that play will carry over into this one. As long as Seth McGowan can suit up and give it a go, Kentucky will score *some* points.

But it’s the other end of the field that looks scary. While Kentucky looked good defensively against Texas last week, Arch Manning isn’t lining up under center on Saturday. QB Joey Aguilar leads the SEC in passing yards with just under 2,000 through seven games. This is an offense that puts up points in a hurry. Tennessee should also be extra hungry for a win after a 37-20 loss to Alabama last weekend.

I think we’ll see a close game in the first quarter before Tennessee begins to pile it on.

Score: Tennessee 34, Kentucky 17

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