Bowl Projections: Kentucky could be walking in Memphis

Back in 2008, Kentucky faced off against East Carolina in the Liberty. A thrilling game saw a David Jones kickoff return touchdown in the second half and was highlighted by a Ventrell Jenkins scoop-and-score touchdown that included a vicious stiff arm. The Wildcats won the game 26-19 to give the program consecutive postseason victories.

Kentucky hasn’t been back to Memphis since.

Staying with the big boy d-lineman to the house theme. Today's UK football #40playsin40days is Ventrell Jenkins with a viscious stiff arm on his way to a Liberty Bowl game winning late 4th qtr scoop and score.#BBN pic.twitter.com/JiuFz35S76

— E/N SportsCards (@ENSportsCards1) July 31, 2022

We’ve reached the part of the predictions stage of the offseason as we’re all waiting on the games to start. Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has published this season’s first batch of bowl projections and is calling for Kentucky to make a return trip to Beale Street on Dec. 29. Below is how Palm sees the bowl season shaking out for the SEC.

• Independence Bowl (Dec. 16): Missouri vs. Tulane
• Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 23): Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State
• Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Dec. 27): North Carolina vs. Auburn
• Texas Bowl (Dec. 27): TCU vs. South Carolina
• Gator Bowl (Dec. 29): Miami vs. Ole Miss
• Liberty Bowl (Dec. 29): Texas Tech vs. Kentucky
• Music City Bowl (Dec. 30): Maryland vs. Arkansas
• Orange Bowl (Dec. 30): Florida State vs. LSU
• ReliaQuest Bowl (Jan. 1): Iowa vs. Texas A&M
• Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1): Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
• Rose Bowl (Jan. 1): No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Alabama
• Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1): No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State

Texas Tech and Kentucky have never faced each other on the gridiron. Joey McGuire enters year two in Lubbock with growing optimism after a surprising 8-5 finish last year that included wins over Texas, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss. Former WKU offensive coordinator Zach Kittley is now calling the plays for his alma mater as the Red Raiders are getting back to their Air Raid roots that were established under Mike Leach.

Per this projection, UK finished behind at least five teams in the SEC with Alabama and Georgia earning playoff bids, LSU getting a New Year’s Six invitation, and Tennessee and Texas A&M splitting the remaining New Year’s Day bowl games.

Football season cannot get here soon enough.