Kentucky vs Tennessee: Preview, Spread, How To Watch, More

DrewFranklinKSR

Tennessee QB Joe Milton, Kentucky QB Devin Leary — John David Mercer | USA TODAY Sports - Jordan Prather | USA TODAY Sports

Fresh out of the bye week, your University of Kentucky Wildcats (5-2, 2-2) are back home in Lexington for the biggest rivalry game at Kroger Field this season. On the visiting side, in the white and that throw-up orange, the Tennessee Volunteers (5-2, 2-2) seek a third consecutive win on the Wildcats’ home turf. Both teams need a win to get their respective programs back on track.

Let’s get you ready for it here on KSR.

How To Watch/Listen

7:00 PM | Saturday, October 7

TV: ESPN

Play-by-play: Mike Monaco
Analysis: Jesse Palmer
Sideline: Katie George

Streaming: WatchESPN

Radio: UK Sports Network | Statewide Affiliate Map

Play-by-play, Tom Leach
Analysis, Jeff Piecoro
Sideline, Dick Gabriel

Satellite Radio: Sirius 132 or 192

Join The Discussion (R.I.P. KSR Live Blog)

For the first time in over a decade, KSR will be without its in-game live blogs, a longtime tradition here on the blog. Unfortunately, the company that hosted the KSR live blogs no longer exists, so we are without the machine that made it all possible.

If you still want to interact with the KSR crew during the game, consider joining the conversation on KSBoard.

Schedules To Date

No. 24 KENTUCKY (5-2, 2-2)			MISSOURI (5-2, 2-2)
vs Ball State	W	44-14	Virginia	W	49-13
vs EKU	W	28-17	Austin Peay	W	30-13
vs Akron	W	35-3	@ Florida	L	29-16
@ Vanderbilt	W	45-28	vs UTSA	W	45-14
vs (22) Florida	W	33-14	vs South Carolina	W	41-20
@ Georgia	L	51-13	vs Texas A&M	W	20-13
vs Missouri	L	38-21	@ (11) Alabama	L	34-20
vs (21) Tennessee			@ Kentucky

Kentucky and Tennessee Week 9 Depth Charts

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

Injury Report

Kentucky

— Starting guard Jager Burton is dressed and participating in warm-ups. However, Kenneth Horsey is in street clothes. He missed five from a week one injury, but returned to the starting lineup against Mizzou.

— Starting linebacker Trevin Wallace, Kentucky’s leading tackler, returned to practice this week and will be back in the middle of the defense today.

— Starting safety Jalen Geiger is participating in pregame warmups, but it’s unclear how much he will be able to play. Jordan Lovett is also in street clothes, which means true freshman Ty Bryant will see significant snaps at safety.

— Tennessee native Tre’vonn Rybka is warming up with the Wildcats after missing the Missouri game.

Out for the season
OL – Ben Christman (RS So.)
OL – Nik Hall (RS Fr.)
DB – Jaremiah Anglin (Fr.)

Tennessee

— Starting cornerback Kamal Hadden suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last week against Alabama.

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— Starting wide receiver Bru McCoy is out for the year with a leg injury.

— Linebacker Keenan Pili is expected to miss at least another game.

Pregame Storylines

SIMILAR SPOTS

Kentucky and Tennessee have identical records. They share similar identities, too. For one, both the Cats and Vols expected to thrive through the air this year, but both have fallen back on running the ball for success. Quarterbacks Devin Leary and Joe Milton have not lived up to the preseason hype. One can go out and change that narrative by beating the other. Or one could go out and lose the game with errant throws and turnovers.

PACING THE SEC IN RUSHING

As UK’s passing game struggles, Kentucky running back Ray Davis leads the Southeastern Conference in rushing (111.6 yards per game), all-purpose yards (139.1 ypg), touchdowns (13) and scoring (11.1 points per game).

The Vols also pound the ball, ranking second as a team with over 1,500 yards on the ground in seven games. Milton helps out with over 30 yards per game.

THE LOSER COULD START SPIRALING

Both teams need a win if they want to reach the goals they each set out to achieve in 2023. For Kentucky, a loss would make three straight, and the Wildcats may not respond well to a three-game skid and the groans from a disappointed fan base.

Tennessee had playoff hopes this season. Those dreams are likely dead already, but a loss to Kentucky would certainly kill them. The Vols don’t like losing to the Wildcats. After all, it has only happened three times since 1984.

Whatever happens, tonight’s result will send each team in completely opposite directions with three games left to play.