Photo by Jeff Houchin
“Touchdown, Kentucky!” is something Kentucky Wildcats fans haven’t heard in three weeks. Tonight, however, it’s football eve in the Bluegrass as the Wildcats play host to the Vanderbilt Commodores at Kroger Field on Saturday night.
Head coach Mark Stoops and his team have had two weeks to ponder on their overtime loss at the Texas A&M Aggies, while the Commodores are coming off a home defeat last weekend at the hands of the Florida Gators.
Kentucky finds themselves favored by double digits and, despite their 5-1 record, favored over an SEC opponent for the first time this season. While Vanderbilt doesn’t present the talent-level that Kentucky has seen thus far, that will hardly retain the Wildcats from coming out hungrier than they have all season.
Despite a 5-1 record as the starting quarterback, Terry Wilson has more to prove than anyone. Wilson’s three touchdowns to five interceptions rank-worst in the SEC via starting QBs. His last outing against the Aggies was rather disappointing but that also means the dual threat can only play better on Saturday.
Benny Snell’s Heisman hype has taken a back seat to most following a 13-touch game at A&M as well as the bye-week but has also been effected by the stellar play of several quarterbacks across the country. Aside from Wilson, there’s probably no one urging more to put the ball in the end zone than Snell.
Speaking of scoring, Kentucky’s defense ranks fourth in the country in scoring defense and ranks 11th in total defense. The veteran unit also ranks 23rd in the nation via both pass and rush defense.
Standout seniors such as Darius West, Derrick Baity, Jordan Jones, Josh Allen and Mike Edwards have just six regular season games left in their Kentucky uniforms. Expect all of them, including junior linebackers Boogie Watson and Kash Daniel, to leave it all on the field down the stretch.
As the second half of the season begins, it will be one of the more crucial stretches in Kentucky football history. The Wildcats control their destiny to win the SEC East, as winning out would include a victory over one-loss Georgia and earn the Wildcats a birth to face the SEC West champion.
An 11-1 season would definitely earn consideration for not just a significant bowl game but also a shot at the four-team College Playoff.
Oddsmakers view that achievement as a long shot but as Stoops has voiced throughout the season, he & his team take their approach one game at a time.
Kickoff on Saturday night is set for 7:30 PM EDT.
