Kentucky at Tennessee: Final preview for the SEC matchup
After a huge win versus bitter rival Alabama, the Vols are set to host the Kentucky Wildcats out
of a bye week in a Dark Mode game at a blacked-out Neyland stadium.
Tennessee once again felt like they were on top of the College football world after taking down
hated Rival Alabama again for the second time in just three years. This improved their record to
6-1, and once again entered their name into college football playoff talks. Kentucky on the
other hand has had a disappointing stretch coming into Knoxville this weekend as they have
dropped their last three games just after taking down a top 10 opponent on the road against
the Ole Miss Rebels.
Kentucky’s Offense
Kentucky’s total offense, at 119, ranks near the bottom of the FBS The product Kentucky has
been putting on the field this season has been underwhelming, to say the least. This has been a
disappointment to those around the country, as they had hoped to be much improved on that
side of the ball this season, bringing in a few transfers that, on paper, had fans raving.
Headlining the transfer class was former 5-star Quarterback from Georgia Brock Vandergriff
who looked to bolster the Kentucky Offense, but that has not been the case, in fact after last week he was benched for Rutgers Transfer Gavin Wimsatt who looks to give this stagnant offense a completely new life. Kentucky does have playmakers though, and coming into this season, looked to have one of the best receiver duos in all of college football in Barion Brown and Dane Key. Both WRs are dynamic players who have been creating some offense for the Wildcats in what little bit they
have. Kentucky also has a backfield duo of Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and Jamarion Wilcox who
have put together a decent run game behind an abysmal Kentucky offensive line.
Kentucky’s Defense
The Kentucky defense has most definitely been the driving force of the team thus far into the
season. Like the Vols, the best part of the Kentucky Defense is their front 7. They are strongest up the middle led by DT Deon Walker and stud LBs Jamon Dumas-Johnson and JJ Weaver.
While their front 7 has been the driving force they have some great players in their secondary such as leading tackler Jordan Lovett and cornerback JQ Hardaway. With that being said, they drop their guys deep leaving the intermediate passing game wide open.
Offensive Keys to the Game
Score in the first half
The Vols have not scored a first-half point in 5 weeks, and this is a trend that cannot continue. A
lot of this stems from penalties and inefficient play in the passing game. If Tennessee
jumps out early, I feel that Kentucky does not have the offensive firepower to keep up.
Run the ball
Running the ball is far and away strength on the offensive side of the football. Kentucky comes
in as the 51-ranked rushing defense, so Tennessee should be able to get stud running back
Dylan Sampson some plays. Getting Bishop more involved could mean a lot as well as taking
some of the workload off Sampson’s back.
Take what’s given
Kentucky will drop their DBs back opening the intermediate passing game. This will allow
Tennessee to dink-and-dunk their way down the field. If you succeed in taking what is given on
top of running the ball effectively, the Vols will find themselves in a good situation into the
night.
Defensive Keys to the Game
Get in the QBs face
Tennessee will look to give Kentucky QB Brock Vandagriff a nasty day. What the Tennesee defense is good at is causing disruption. When you give the QB trouble, good things come with it.
Tackle!
Kentucky has playmakers, and it is of vital importance that you make those open-field tackles. If
one of their guys makes one or two misses could lead to big momentum-shifting plays. Those
playmakers have NFL speed, and it’s not easy to tackle them, but if you do, you win the game.
Stuff the run
Kentucky has a fine running attack, and if Wimsatt is the starter it bolstered, as he has nice legs,
and is a better athlete than Vandergriff. Tennessee is ranked second in the country in rushing
defense, and this has been the reason they have found success. A Vols win in the way we want
means they handled the run game of the Wildcats.
Prediction
Tennesee leads Kentucky in the all-time series 84-26. The Vols have historically owned the Wildcats, and there’s no reason to predict a change this year. The Vols win 33-6.
