Kentucky is 2-11 in its last 13 SEC home games but Kentucky Today writer Keith Taylor believes UK can beat both Florida and Tennessee in Lexington this year. (Vicky Graff Photo)
There are no lofty expectations set for Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, who embarks on his 13th season as coach of the Wildcats.
A year ago, Kentucky shut out Southern Mississippi to open the season, but a disappointing loss to South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference opener led to a 4-8 finish, including a 1-7 record in the league.
This year, a tough schedule awaits the Wildcats, which includes six games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll. A revamped roster filled with transfers, mixed with a handful of returnees and freshmen, will attempt to rebound from last year’s downfall that ended an unprecedented run of eight straight postseason appearances.
The only way for Kentucky to go is up, and barring an upset here and there, the Wildcats can break even at 6-6. Here’s the forecast based on this writer’s analytical view of the schedule.
Aug. 30: Toledo
The Rockets are soaring going into the season after defeating Mississippi State and Pitt last year. Toledo is favored to win the MAC. I expect Kentucky to open the season with a fight, but still come away with a win.
Kentucky 28, Toledo 25.
Sept. 7: Ole Miss
Kentucky stunned the Rebels after losing its first two conference games last year. Prior to the loss, Ole Miss had won three in a row in the series. Much like Kentucky, Ole Miss is rebuilding, and the holdovers remember their last outing against the Wildcats.
Ole Miss 34, Kentucky 21
Sept. 13: Eastern Michigan
Kentucky is 2-0 against Eastern Michigan and defeated the Eagles 28-17 in the last meeting between the two teams in 2019. Eastern Michigan isn’t as strong as Toledo, and won’t provide as much of a threat as the Rockets.
Kentucky 34, Eastern Michigan 17
Sept. 27: at South Carolina
Behind Shane Beamer, the Gamecocks have won two straight over the Wildcats, including last year’s unexpected blowout at Kroger Field. South Carolina returns its starting quarterback, LaNorris Sellers, and defensive end Dylan Stewart.
USC 30, Kentucky 17
Oct. 4: at Georgia
Kentucky hasn’t beaten the Bulldogs since 2009 and came close with a 13-12 loss to Georgia last year in Lexington. The Bulldogs are hard to beat at home, and UK’s last win against Georgia was in Athens 16 years ago.
Georgia 24, Kentucky 17
Oct. 18: Texas
After two straight road encounters against SEC foes and an open date, Kentucky will face the top-ranked Longhorns, who will be making their first visit to Lexington.
Texas 42, Kentucky 28
Oct. 25: Tennessee
The Volunteers have won four in a row over the Wildcats, but following three straight losses, Kentucky gets back on track against Tennessee at home.
Kentucky 27, Tennessee 21
Nov. 1: Auburn
The Tigers are back on the mend, and Hugh Freeze will be a tough foe to overcome for the Wildcats. Auburn is seeking a breakthrough after putting together successful recruiting classes back-to-back.
Auburn 30, Kentucky 27
Nov. 8: Florida
Kentucky has won three of the past four games in the series and wants to erase memories of last year’s 48-20 loss in Gainesville.
Kentucky 24, Florida 21
Nov. 15: Tennessee Tech
The Eagles are in their last season in the OVC, and Kentucky shouldn’t have any issues closing the home schedule with a win.
Kentucky 42, Tennessee Tech 10
Nov. 22: at Vanderbilt
The Commodores ended a two-game losing skid to the Wildcats last year in Lexington, and Kentucky will close out the league slate with a win.
Kentucky 24, Vandy 22
Nov. 29: at Louisville
Prior to last season, the Wildcats had won the previous five encounters against the Cardinals, but it will be tougher this time around.
Louisville 29, Kentucky 24
11 Responses
Nice if you are correct but I think a bit optimistic
I think the writer is forgetting who is coaching UK. Dumb play calling, clock mismanagement, poor player utilization, poor game prep, etc. from Stoops probably costs UK somewhere around 10 points per game on average.
Ditto! … on every count, OldFan!
Just trying to remember UK-TN & UK-FL history…
Did we beat both last year?
& is TN always an easy W?
Last year I read that UK had the best group of players in Stoops’ tenure & UK won 4 games.
I don’t want to think about what happens if this team is not quite as good.
I think Kentucky beats Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Auburn. I see us running our non conference schedule. We will beat Louisville to end the year. 8-4 (4-4) and Stoops gets a 5 year extension on his 100 year contract. Lol I do believe we win 7-8 games. We have a ton of experience and that matters more and more. We have a team like S.Pete says that have been there and done that and this is there last go and they just want to to win. I believe that. Our offensive line and secondary will both be our strengths and the last 3 years both have been our weakness. Our secondary is elite. Our offensive line is way better than average. We will blow Toledo off the line and get things rolling with a big win in the first game. Calzada is going to throw for over 250 yards. 2 running backs will eclipse 100 yards. I want Gruden or Sumrall but I don't think it will happen because of this year. If he can get it done this year and keep the last couple recruiting classes with hopes of improving even more on the record. Especially if we get at least 3-4 guys drafted at the end of the year, I think you see the transfer portal slow down a little with the house settlement. It will still be huge, but guys will come back more and more with contract like negotiations.
I went back and looked at each game to try to find out of 6 wins is possible.
The 2-4 record after 6 games will result in a worn down locker room. UK has been dropping lower & lower for 4 years with 4-8 being almost at the bottom of the barrel.
So, if UK loses 3 in a row (2 on the road and then A&M at home, the sad 2-4 record including 3 losses in a row will be too much to overcome when a locker room full of transfers from anywhere & everywhere begin to think UK was the wrong choice.
TN is hardly the team to try to stop a 3 game losing streak. We have seen years and years of a flat UK team when playing TN and that’s been the case regardless of prior games or the UK W-L record at that time. The UK staff has been too consistent at sending a FLAT UK team onto the field regardless of it’s at H or A. If it’s TN, then they could play in a cornfield or on the White House lawn, and still seem to lack any heartbeat as a team when they kickoff. It’s just a fact. Sad, but true. After years of Stoops saying all the things he hopes fans will like, the product does not match his fantasy team. Sad but true.
So, TN just continues to beat UK, and this time with more transfers than could be found at Grand Central Station.
That makes it 2-5 and at that point even Vandy will look like giants to the UK players. Only TN TECH will be a team the UK players can beat after falling to 2-5 where they are only looking forward to the end of the season.
3 wins would have been unthinkable (even 5 wins was far from anyone’s thoughts!) because a bowl game was almost a given because the recruits brought in by a former great recruiter were on a roll. Those great days (10 wins being the last of a few real good years) are over and will not be seen again at UK until makes a big change!
So what should UK do to make a big change?
A- give Stoops a $3 Million raise ?
B- give the OL coach a $1 Million raise ?
C- give Barney a $1 Million raise ?
D- PUNT – after removing the A, B, C guys ?
My choice is punt – and give up these 3 persons who can change the fortunes of any great team in 1 season!
I’ll be more than willing to eat every word I’ve ever scribed on this site if we go bowling + be an investor in the Mark Stoops bronze statue – always live by my word. Would do it happily.
You better get a second job.
Along those lines hats off to Cal for walking away before things got distasteful.
Distasteful was when he tried to get more $ after talking to Arkansas and receiving an offer behind our back in violation of his contract.
Distasteful AND illegal. Barney should have made him pay for it.
I always said the same thing. The problem with Stoops is nobody else will want him. Kentucky is considered the easiest job in the SEC win 6 games and the fans will love you is the saying. I think Stoops would demand every penny on time.