Kentucky vs. Missouri: KSR Staff Predictions, presented by Eckrich

The Kentucky Wildcats are back home on Saturday to host the Missouri Tigers in an SEC East rivalry game between two one-loss teams. Kentucky and Missouri each suffered their first and only loss a week ago: Kentucky at Georgia (51-13) and Missouri at home to LSU (49-39). This weekend in Lexington, one team will bounce back to remain a long shot in the SEC conversation, while the other will fall into a two-game skid as the regular season schedule rounds the turn. The winner of this game will also become bowl-eligible.

Here at Kentucky Sports Radio, the office submitted another roundtable of predictions for what’s in store for the Wildcats. Last week, four of the six panelists accurately named Georgia the winner, although nobody expected the blowout that occurred in Athens.

This week, KSR headquarters feels a little better about Kentucky’s chances. You’ll see in the predictions below.

But first, a message from Ekrich about its $1 Million Challenge for Teachers:

Eckrich is proud to present the $1 Million Challenge for Teachers! This 2023 college football season Eckrich, in partnership with Extra Yard for Teachers and Kroger, will invite a local teacher (and true hero) onto the field at the Kentucky vs. Alabama game on November 11^th. 

The selected teacher, randomly selected from a list of nominations, will have a chance to throw a football through a target to win up to $1 million dollars in donations to fund local classroom projects and resources in their school and community. Nominate a teacher here for a chance to throw! Make sure to nominate your teacher by October 26^th. 

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Drew Franklin

I still believe in Kentucky’s defense. I certainly felt better about it a week ago, but the Georgia game didn’t destroy my confidence in Brad White’s operation. So, I believe the Wildcats will hold Missouri under its 33.17 points-per-game average by cutting off the big plays to Luther Burden. Burden has the best receiving numbers in the country and his quarterback, Brady Cook, is having a breakout season getting it to him. However, the night atmosphere in Kroger Field and a Kentucky defense that had a long week of practice will stand in the way of Missouri getting to 30 points.

Offensively, Devin Leary and the receiver room are running out of runway to get moving through the air. Mizzou gives up some shots, so Saturday is an opportunity to finally get on the same page, and they will.

Score: Kentucky 30, Missouri 24

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Tyler Thompson

Although I picked Kentucky to lose to Georgia last week, my score (24-20) was wildly off. I really thought the Cats would show more fight vs. the No. 1 Bulldogs; alas, they dug themselves into a hole early on and couldn’t climb out vs. the two-time national champs.

This is a scary game to me. All week I’ve been hearing about Missouri’s explosive offense and how Brady Cook and Luther Burden could light up Kentucky’s banged-up secondary. Add in the fact that the Tigers view the Wildcats as a rival and haven’t won in Kroger Field in a decade and you know they’ll be ready to play. Kentucky can either roll over and let one loss become two or stand up and fight for redemption after an embarrassing showing in Athens. I’m leaning toward the latter.

I think Kentucky’s defense is much better than it showed last week and the Cats will be eager to get a bad taste out of their mouths in front of a rowdy crowd at home. Devin Leary’s funk still scares me, but for at least one more week, I’m hoping that it’s just that — a funk — and he’ll snap out of it with the help of a motivated Barion Brown. If not, we’re gonna need Ray Davis to save the day again.

Cats win, but it’ll be close.

Score: Kentucky 31, Missouri 28

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Zack Geoghegan

I feel confident that Mark Stoops won’t let one loss turn into two. Missouri isn’t Georgia — nowhere close. The Tigers defense can give up some points, too. Kentucky might not even need the long-awaited breakout game from Devin Leary to make it happen. Missouri gives up over 120 rushing yards per game. Ray Davis will go for 150. Unlike last week, there is no road environment of 90,000-plus fans barking at you while they cheer on the top-ranked, two-defending champions. The Big Blue Nation will play a role in this one.

My worry comes on defense. How does Brad White’s unit respond? The “bend don’t break” mantra against Georgia snapped like a twig. Missouri trots out a high-octane offense with a future NFL player catching every other pass. That being said, I’m calling for the best defensive outing of the season from the Wildcats on Saturday. Havoc plays will flip the game early on in favor of Kentucky. One loss will turn into one massive win.

Score: Kentucky 35, Missouri 17

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Adam Luckett

There are many reasons to be worried about this year’s matchup with Missouri if you are Kentucky. Luther Burden III is an All-American operating out of the slot. Brady Cook is the best remaining quarterback on the schedule entering Week 7. The Tigers are lighting pass defenses up under new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s secondary looked overwhelmed against Georgia’s vertical passing game and the offense cannot stop making mistakes.

This is a true toss-up game in Week 7. The winner has a great shot at getting to double-digit wins and the loser could end up at 7-5 and very disappointed with how the year played out. Luckily, I believe this spot really favors Kentucky.

Both teams are coming off demoralizing defeats. One is returning home and the other is hitting the road. Kentucky gets out to another quick start on offense on Saturday and builds a double-digit lead in the first half. Ray Davis creates some explosive play, but the Kentucky passing game is the one that has its best performance of the season taking advantage of a leaky and banged-up Missouri secondary.

Kentucky is the best defense that Missouri has faced and that shows up early on Saturday night. The Tigers make a furious comeback in the second half, but Kentucky creates some red zone stops and that ultimately wins the contest. Mark Stoops’ team will win their first one-possession game of the season and enter the bye week at 6-1 and still ranked.

Score: Kentucky 31, Missouri 23

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Nick Roush

This game is giving me anxiety. Let me explain why.

My biggest overreaction to the Georgia loss is that Kentucky’s defense stinks. Obviously, that’s not the case. Two weeks ago I thought Brad White might have his best defense yet. The answer lies somewhere in between, with the biggest questions in the secondary. The cornerbacks have exceeded expectations, but the safeties have not. Now they’re without their most consistent performer, Jalen Geiger.

Missouri’s passing game has been cooking, pun intended. Brady Cook is completing 75% of his passes in SEC play, with Luther Burden on the receiving end of most. The nation’s top tight end just carved up the Cats. What will the nation’s top wide receiver do?

Ultimately, those fears might be realized and Kentucky can still win the football game because of where it’s played. Missouri is not battle-tested in a raucous road environment. Kroger Field will be rocking and I trust Mark Stoops more than I trust Eli Drinkwitz to get his team to execute in a close game.

Score: Kentucky 28, Missouri 27

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Jack Pilgrim

Devin Leary did not forget how to play football. The guy who was ‘surgical’ throughout fall camp and had national analysts drooling over this offense’s potential with the help of Liam Coen isn’t physically limited — stop blaming the torn pec. It’s mental. He’s overthinking every throw and doesn’t trust his receivers to be in the right position or to make the catch when they are. That’s the only thing holding this team back from reaching the heights it is clearly capable of.

But we’re at the halfway point of the season. It’s now or never. If Leary doesn’t get it figured out on Saturday, I don’t think he ever will. Call it blind optimism, but I’m banking on the physical tools winning out and the passing attack finally putting things together. The receivers and tight ends have to help him out, though. All of that potential is cute, but it means nothing when you’ve got more sophomore lowlights than freshman highlights. And the sure-handed vets can’t have rookie drops. Something’s got to give at some point and that point needs to be Saturday.

Wake up and everything else will fall into place.

Score: Kentucky 34, Missouri 24

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