Early lines out for a trio of big Kentucky Football games

The 2022 college football season is less than four months away and today, we got the early lines for two crucial games on Kentucky’s schedule. Over at FanDuel, Kentucky is a 3.5-point underdog at Tennessee on October 29 and a 16-point underdog vs. Georgia at home on November 19. Last week, the line for the Florida game debuted, with the Gators favored by four at the Swamp on September 10.

• September 10: at Florida (+4)
• October 29: at Tennessee (+3.5)
• November 19: vs. Georgia (+16)

Adam Luckett broke down the significance of the Florida line last week, but what do we make of the Cats being a 3.5-point underdog vs. Tennessee? Kentucky not only won the last game in Knoxville, they dominated the Vols 34-7. Last year’s 45-42 loss at Kroger Field still stings, but the fact that Tennessee is only favored by 3.5 — which, if you take away home-field advantage, is less than a point — shows oddsmakers believe the teams are essentially on equal footing.

I doubt anyone expected Kentucky to be any less than a double-digit ‘dog to Georgia. Last year, the Cats lost to the defending national champs 30-13, covering the spread of 21.5; in fact, Kentucky has covered the spread in each of its last three outings vs. Georgia. In 2020, the Bulldogs were a 17-point favorite but only won by 11, 14-3. In 2019, Georgia dominated the Cats 21-0, which was still below the 24-point spread.

Mark Stoops is 3-6 against the spread vs. Georgia, 3-3 vs. Kirby Smart. The only time Kentucky hasn’t been a double-digit underdog to Georgia in the Stoops era was 2016 when the Bulldogs were favored by two. Kentucky’s last victory vs. Georgia? 2009, when Randall Cobb led the Cats to a 34-27 victory in Athens. Time to snap that 13-year streak and get to Atlanta. Some cold weather could help.

What say you? Kentucky to cover and win all three, right?