Kentucky typically responds well immediately after losses as SEC favorite

The Kentucky football program took it on the chin in Week 2. Mark Stoops saw his team get blasted as a 9.5-point favorite by road dog South Carolina. The Wildcats did not score the spread in the 31-6 loss that included a long list of offensive mistakes and some key high-leverage situations lost on defense. Many are down on where this team is and what is coming next.

Kirby Smart will bring his top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in to Kroger Field on Saturday and Kentucky is unsurprisingly a big underdog in that game. UGA is currently a 24-point favorite, but this is an area where we’ve seen Stoops and his teams perform well.

Since 2017, Kentucky has lost SEC games as an outright favorite eight times before this season. In games immediately after those defeats, Kentucky owns a 6-2 against the spread (ATS) record.

• 2017 | UK (-3) vs. Ole Miss — Rebels 37, Cats 34 | UK (+2) at Vanderbilt — Cats 44, Commodores 21
• 2018 | UK (-5) at Tennessee — Vols 24, Cats 7 | UK (-16) vs. Middle Tennessee — Cats 34, Blue Raiders 23
• 2019 | UK (-1) vs. Tennessee — Vols 17, Cats 13 | UK (-10) at Vanderbilt — Cats 38, Commodores 14
• 2020 | UK (-6) vs. Ole Miss — Rebels 42, Cats 41 | UK (-2) vs. Mississippi State — Cats 24, Bulldogs 2
• 2020 | UK (-3) at Missouri — Tigers 20, Cats 10 | UK (+17) vs. Georgia — Bulldogs 14, Cats 3
• 2022 | UK (-6) vs. South Carolina — Gamecocks 24, Cats 14 | UK (+3) vs. Mississippi State | Cats 27, Bulldogs 17
• 2022 | UK (-17) vs. Vanderbilt — Commodores 24, Cats 21 | UK (+22) Georgia | Bulldogs 16, Cats 6
• 2023 | UK (-2) vs. Missouri — Tigers 38, Cats 21 | UK (+3) vs. Tennessee | Vols 33, Cats 27

In eight games as a loss as an SEC favorite, Kentucky has a 75 percent cover percentage and has twice covered as a big home dog against Georgia. The Wildcats own a pair of outright upsets in this stretch and typically perform will after suffering a major stepback.

Will that trend continue on Saturday night at Kroger Field? The recent trends say yes.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join KSR+

KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. In the middle of a busy summer of recruiting for the basketball and football programs, now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the club.