JOE COX: UK's Golden Opportunity for Big Season Hinges on UT Matchup

Kentucky’s chances for a historically big season have taken a hit with back-to-back losses. But if the Wildcats can survive Saturday’s matchup with Tennessee, a 10-2 regular season is still very likely. That said, this is not the stumbling, pitiful Tennessee squads of some recent seasons (see, for instance, last year’s team, which Kentucky beat 34-7 in Knoxville). UK's defense in particular has its work cut out to pick up the victory.

Kentucky’s 31-17 loss to Mississippi State last week was absolutely bewildering. UK’s ground game was missing in action, and QB Will Levis alternated nice plays with horrible passes that MSU was quick to turn into interceptions. Defensively, Kentucky sat back and watched MSU QB Will Rogers set an SEC record for completion percentage by going 36 for 39. State seemed to be going through 7-on-7 drills while Kentucky never got untracked.

Tennessee is 4-4, but has shown surprising fight. UT hung with Alabama into the fourth quarter of that game, and took Ole Miss down to the wire before losing. Former Virginia Tech QB Hendon Hooker is leading the SEC in QB rating and has done an excellent job with new coach Josh Heupel’s offense.

Kentucky continues to battle injury issues. Josh Ali was back for the Mississippi State game, but Marquan McCall didn’t make it back. Linebacker Jordan Wright was banged up in the State game also, and it’s unclear if he’ll be back for the Tennessee game. The Wildcats have to ramp up the absent rushing game again. If Chris Rodriguez can get back to churning out chunks of yardage (and holding onto the ball), the Wildcat offense should take a big step forward.

Tennessee’s up-tempo offense will test the UK defense, but it’s worth noting that the Vols have allowed the most sacks of any team in the SEC. Kentucky’s defense has only forced four turnovers on the season, and picking up one or two would make life easier.

This game feels like a remarkably even match-up. In such a situation, the home field advantage for UK could be huge. Kroger Field has proven to be particularly inhospitable at night, and the Big Blue Nation could well be the difference in the game. A win puts UK back on the New Year’s Six bowl path. A loss will mean this season doesn’t quite reach the heights of the promise from that 6-0 start. The guess here is that UK finds a way.

Kentucky 28, Tennessee 27

Around the SEC

Here are the picks for the rest of the league’s slate:

Georgia 52, Missouri 14

Ole Miss 35, Liberty 24

Auburn 29, Texas A&M 28

Arkansas 31, Mississippi State 24

Alabama 42, LSU 14

Florida 35, South Carolina 10

Joe Cox is contributing editor for KySportsStyle.com Magazine. He grew up in Letcher County and Bell County and has written or co-written nine books. His most recent, "A Fine Team Man: Jackie Robinson and the Lives He Changed," was released in February 2019 and can be ordered on Amazon or at many local bookstores. Joe is an attorney and lives in Logan County with his wife and children. You can reach him at jrcox004@gmail.com.