Early Week 2 betting line shows Kentucky is making progress

We have not yet reached the 100-day countdown threshold for the college football season, but speculation for the 2022 year has begun. The spring semester is over at Kentucky, and all eyes are on the fall when the Wildcats hit the turf at Kroger Field for year 10 under Mark Stoops.

During the program’s rise under the former Florida State defensive coordinator, Kentucky as slowly exorcised demons and ended some embarrassing program streaks. The biggest was to Florida as the Wildcats had a long series losing streak to the Gators and that went away in 2018.

After another victory over Dan Mullen to give Kentucky its first home victory in the series since 1986, Stoops will see a fourth Florida head coach on the opposing sideline during his tenure. For the first time in the Stoops era, handicappers are not calling for a double-digit point spread in the game.

Early CFB lines from @FanDuel

Alabama (-14.5) at Texas
Tennessee (-3.5) at Pitt
Kentucky at Florida (-4)
Texas A&M (-9) vs Miami
Ole Miss (-9.5) at Georgia Tech
Auburn vs Penn St (-1)
Texas A&M (-7.5) vs Arkansas
Alabama (-17.5) at Arkansas
Alabama (-16) vs Texas A&M

— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) May 11, 2022

Fan Duel has released some early lines for some big games on the 2022 schedule, and the only Kentucky appearance has the Big Blue catching just a few points at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. For the first time in recent memory, Vegas believes this series should be a close game in Gainesville.

Let’s take a look at the previous lines and results for the games at The Swamp in the Stoops era:

• 2014: Kentucky (+18) 30, Florida 36, 3OT
• 2016: Kentucky (+16) 7, Florida 45
• 2018: Kentucky (+13) 27, Florida 16
• 2020: Kentucky (+24) 10, Florida 34

In four meetings, Kentucky is just 1-3 overall, but owns a 2-1-1 record against the spread. The 2016 loss is one of the biggest low points of the Stoops era, but the win in 2018 may have been the highest moment for the program. In 2022, Kentucky will return to Gainesville as a single-digit underdog.

Under Mark Stoops, Kentucky football keeps knocking doors down and growing as a program. Entering the upcoming season, both the Wildcats and Gators are considered equals. The Sept. 10 matchup between the division opponents should have legitimate stakes.