The Kentucky Wildcats head into Saturday’s game against in-state rival Louisville needing one win to make it to a bowl game for the first time since 2010. Louisville at Kentucky is sure to be a hotly contested game.
Mark Stoops’ club broke a five game losing streak by blowing out an over matched Charlotte squad 58-10.
In his first start at quarterback Drew Barker didn’t have to do a whole lot but didn’t make any bad plays either. Barker completed 16 of 29 passes for 129 yards with no interceptions or touchdowns. Playing in the cold and snow the Wildcat rushing attack exploded for 415 yards and six touchdowns. Jojo Kemp and Boom Williams both ran for over 100 yards and Sihiem King ran for 91 more.
SEC Predictions and Previews: Louisville at Kentucky
The task on Saturday will be much tougher as the Cats host a Cardinal club who have gotten themselves to bowl eligibility after starting 0-3.
Bobby Petrino’s club is trying to bounce back after a 45-34 loss to Pittsburgh in which the Card defense gave up 42 points before halftime.
Petrino has never lost to Kentucky as the coach of Louisville and you may remember tempers flared between the two schools last year which included the head coaches. Once the game started it was a classic as U of L won 44-40 to keep the Wildcats from making a bowl game.
There is still a chance Kentucky could make the post-season even with a 5-7 record but I must admit I am torn on this notion. One the one hand the money and the extra month of practice would be invaluable going into next season. On the other do you really want to go to a bowl game with a losing record? Though that probably says more about there being too many bowl games.
The best thing the Cats could do is just win baby, and I think playing at home they will do just that in what should be a great game.
Kentucky 31-27
Last week was a pretty good one for me going 7-2 making my season record 74-23. If last week was “Cupcake Saturday” this is indeed “Rivalry Weekend.”
Missouri at Arkansas- (Friday 2:30 CBS)- This will be Gary Pinkel’s swan song with the Tigers while the Razorbacks are trying to bounce back from the fourth quarter collapse against Mississippi State. The Hogs should punch their ticket to possibly the Texas Bowl with a win.
Arkansas 28- 17
Georgia at Georgia Tech- (NOON ABC)– Ever since the rumblings of Marc Richt being let go started the Bulldogs have won three in a row though they did need overtime to beat Georgia Southern. The Yellow Jackets have been one of the biggest disappointments in football in 2015 and even at home I don’t think they win here.
Georgia 20-14
Clemson at South Carolina- (NOON ESPN)- One team in this battle is rated #1 and is trying to secure its spot in the College Football Playoff; the other is South Carolina. It has been a season to forget in Columbia cemented by a loss to The Citadel last Saturday. The Tigers win pretty easily and the Kirby Smart watch begins.
Clemson 31-13
Alabama at Auburn- (3:30 CBS)– Five of the last six years the winner of this one has made it to the championship game and the Tide look like they could make it six of seven. From being ranked pre-season Top 10 to looking at 6-6 it has not been a good year down on the plains. Anything can happen in a rivalry game but I just can’t see Auburn winning.
Alabama 35-17
Vanderbilt at Tennessee- (4:00 SEC Network)- The Vols are looking to finish with eight wins and a possible bid to the Liberty Bowl. The Commodores have shown marked improvement late in the season under Derek Dooley. I think this one could be fairly close, but the Vols win.
Tennessee 24-10
Ole Miss at Mississippi State- (7:15 ESPN2)- The annual “Egg Bowl” battle could be the game of the day in the SEC. Both teams can score points in bunches and this should be a high scoring game. This will be the 112th time these two teams have played but only the sixth while both teams were ranked. The home team has won 10 of the last 11 and the last time the Rebels won in Starkville was 2003. Some guy named Eli Manning was the quarterback then and I think he has done ok for himself. I think at home MSU wins a close one.
Mississippi State 38-35
Florida State at Florida- (7:30 ESPN)- Ever since Will Grier’s suspension the Gators have not been the same club, winning their games with a strong defense. In this game they will face a pretty tough Seminole offense. Jimbo Fisher, whose name has been making the rounds this week as a possible replacement for Les Miles at LSU, is looking to beat the Gators for a third straight year. I don’t think this will be a high scoring game and I am going with FSU to win.
Florida State 21-17
Texas A&M at LSU-(7:30 SEC Network)- Even with all the talk this week it is still unbelievable to me to think this is going to be Les Miles’ last game in Baton Rouge. Yes the Tigers have not been as good as in the past, but I would think just about every school in football would want Miles as their coach. If it is his last game in Death Valley I see the Tigers sending him out a winner.
LSU 27-23
That’s it for this week, I would like to hear your predictions. Look me up on Twitter @kevinmcguffey and tweet me your picks.
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