How Kentucky and Tennessee match up — with a game prediction
How Kentucky (1-2 SEC) and No. 18 Tennessee (2-1 SEC) match up at each position — with a game prediction:
Quarterbacks
Kentucky’s Terry Wilson followed his best game as UK’s starting QB vs. Mississippi (14-of-18 passing for 151 yards; 129 yards rushing for three touchdowns) with one of his worst vs. Mississippi State (8-of-20 passing for 73 yards; 13 rushes for 50 yards). The 6-foot-3, 202-pound senior from Oklahoma City, Okla., has one prior career start vs. Tennessee, completing 21 of 34 passes for 172 yards with one TD and one interception in UK’s 24-7 upset loss at Neyland Stadium in 2018. Tennessee’s Jarrett Guarantano is 1-1 vs. Kentucky as a starter. Last year vs. UK, the 6-4, 230-pound redshirt senior came off the bench to throw two second-half touchdown passes to rally the Volunteers from a 13-3 deficit to a 17-13 victory at Kroger Field. In his career vs. Kentucky, Guarantano is 37-of-51 passing for 554 yards with four TDs and no interceptions.
Advantage: Tennessee.
Running backs
Kentucky starter A.J. Rose (170 rushing yards, one TD, 5.7 yards per carry) has lost fumbles with UK in scoring position in back-to-back games. Sophomore power back Christopher Rodriguez (184, three, 5.6) ran for 133 yards and two TDs vs. Ole Miss but had only seven carries, which went for 38 yards and a TD, in last week’s 24-2 win over Mississippi State. In his first college carry, JuTahn McClain ripped off a 17-yard run last week vs. Mississippi State. With Kavosiey Smoke (rib injury) still sidelined, the 5-9, 187-pound true freshman from Fairfield, Ohio, could play a larger role in the UK offense this week. Tennessee features a two-headed RB combination with senior Ty Chandler (187 yards, one TD, 4.7 ypc) and sophomore Eric Gray (177, two, 4.7; 10 catches, 98 yards, one TD).
Advantage: Even.
Wide receivers
Kentucky wide receivers were all but a non-factor in the victory over Mississippi State, catching a combined four passes for 27 total yards. “We didn’t have a good day and it was a combination of things,” UK Coach Mark Stoops said of the Cats’ passing game vs. MSU. Senior Josh Ali (18 catches, 208 yards) is tied for ninth in the SEC in receptions. Tennessee senior Josh Palmer (14 catches, 227 yards, three TDs) pretty much was UT’s offense in last week’s 44-21 loss at Georgia, catching four passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Palmer made a tough TD catch vs. UK last year in UT’s comeback victory.
Advantage: Tennessee.
Tight ends
Kentucky redshirt sophomore Keaton Upshaw (two catches, 17 yards, one TD) caught his second career TD in Saturday’s win over MSU. Mark Stoops was unhappy with a first-half drop by senior starter Justin Rigg (four, 35) that could have gone for a big play. Tennessee lost projected starter Austin Pope to preseason back surgery. His replacement, Princeton Fant, has caught two passes in three games.
Advantage: Kentucky.
Offensive linemen
As a Kentucky redshirt junior, former Belfry standout Austin Dotson has emerged as a valuable reserve at guard. Mark Stoops said Kentucky’s pass protection vs. Mississippi State was subpar. “We had the worst protection issues we have had all year,” Stoops said. Like UK, Tennessee has one of the most well-regarded offensive lines in the SEC. However, the Vols o-line was whipped up front by Georgia last week in the decisive second half. A 6-6, 330-pound senior, left guard Trey Smith is a projected first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Advantage: Even.
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Defensive linemen
Mark Stoops praised the “relentless” efforts of Kentucky nose guard Quinton Bohanna and tackle Phil Hoskins in the victory over Mississippi State. The UK coach said Bohanna’s pressure led directly to two of Kentucky’s six interceptions vs. Mike Leach’s Air Raid. The Tennessee defensive line was a relative bright spot in the blowout loss at Georgia. Defensive end Darel Middleton, a 6-7, 305-pound senior, helped snuff a Georgia fourth-and-goal play from the 1-yard line on the final play of the first half and batted down three passes.
Advantage: Tennessee.
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Linebackers
Kentucky’s linebacking corps was stellar in the win over MSU. UK OLB/rush end Jordan Wright (six tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup and an interception return TD) was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. SLB Boogie Watson had a spectacular interception that saved a TD and a sack. MLB Jamin Davis had 11 tackles and a pick. WLBs DeAndre Square (nine tackles, one pass breakup) and Jared Casey (six tackles) played strong. UT OLB/rush end Deandre Johnson leads the SEC in sacks (3.5). WLB Henry To’o To’o has an interception and leads the Vols in tackles (23).
Advantage: Even.
Defensive backs
Kentucky sophomore CB Kelvin Joseph, a transfer from LSU, had his first Wildcats interception vs. MSU. Strong safety Tyrell Ajian had five tackles and a pass breakup. Tennessee safety Trevon Flowers originally committed to UK to play baseball. The 5-11, 195-pound junior is second on the team with 20 tackles and has a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Advantage: Tennessee.
Special teams
Kentucky punter Max Duffy (48.07 yards a punt) was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance (44.7 yards average on eight punts; three inside the 20; 75-yard free kick after safety that flipped field position; saved a TD by kicking bad long snap through end zone) vs. MSU. After his rough go vs. Ole Miss, place-kicker Matt Ruffolo hit a 35-yard field goal and all three extra points vs. Mississippi State. Tennessee punter Paxton Brooks is averaging 44 yards a kick and has stopped nine of 14 punts inside the 20. Senior place-kicker Brent Cimaglia is 42-of-56 on field goals in his career, but his only make this year is from 27 yards and he has misses from 39 and 46.
Advantage: Tennessee.
Prediction
Tennessee 17, Kentucky 16.
This story was originally published October 14, 2020 at 11:18 AM.
