Freddie Maggard ranks Kentucky football home games from worst to best

“Alabama — call me crazy, but I think this is a game Kentucky can win.”

Well then. Tell us how you really feel, Freddie Maggard.

Fall camp has come to a close and game preparation is set to begin, as the Wildcats are set to open the regular season vs. Ball State on September 2. It’s the first of seven home matchups for Kentucky inside Kroger Field, four being SEC foes and three coming outside of the conference.

Three non-conference games followed by four consecutive SEC battles to close out the season.

• 9/2 vs Ball State
• 9/9 vs Akron
• 9/16 vs EKU
• 9/30 vs Florida
• 10/14 vs Missouri
• 10/28 vs Tennessee
• 11/11 vs Alabama

“What a great year to be a season ticket holder,” Maggard said. “Florida, Tennessee and Alabama come here. That’s worth your purchase. I’m a season ticket holder. I don’t work for UK, but I highly suggest getting your tickets now before those major, major logos and brands come to Kroger Field.”

It’s a solid home schedule from top to bottom, but which games are best? What are the least appealing matchups inside Kroger Field this fall? Freddie Maggard has the complete breakdown, ranking the home slate from worst to best.

Freddie Maggard’s Take

6/7: Ball State and Akron

• “(Ball State) is a good opening opponent for Kentucky. … I want to see how the new (guys) turn out, that offensive line, how they play. It’s going to be much more fun watching a Liam Coen offense compared to a Rich Scangarello snooze fest like we saw last year.”
• “Akron is not good.”

5. EKU

• “I have a lot of respect for EKU. There are a lot of football guys on that staff that I admire, respect and think the world of, starting with head coach Walt Wells. Great guy, great coach.”

4. Missouri

• “This has developed into a rivalry game. I didn’t think it would, but it has. The two teams don’t like each other. Missouri considers Kentucky its primary rivalry within the conference, Kentucky doesn’t think that way.”

3. Florida

• “I think Kentucky is better than Florida, but I don’t think the margin is so wide that Kentucky can just show up and win. These are two pretty evenly matched teams. This is a critical game for Kentucky. If the Cats are going to have a good season, they have to beat Florida.”

2. Alabama

• “Alabama has quarterback issues. They lost the nation’s best offensive and defensive players last year, but don’t be fooled. Their two-deep is littered with four- and five-star players. If there is ever a year Kentucky can upset Alabama, I think it’s this year. That could be a huge game for Kentucky — that could be a field-storming event.”

1. Tennessee

• “The game I’m looking forward to the most? Tennessee. They’re going to travel well, they’re going to play Rocky Top wherever they go, they’re going to wear orange. They are going to be very annoying.”

Check out Freddie’s complete breakdown on the KSR YouTube page below: