KSR's Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Predictions

Kentucky’s 6-0 start is in the distant past. Reeling off of three-straight losses, the Wildcats must bounce back Saturday night at Vanderbilt. Can they rebound and finish the final three games of the season with authority? The KSR crew weighs in with predictions ahead of tonight’s matchup between the Cats and the Commodores.

Tyler Thompson

I’m attending today’s game on behalf of our website, so cross your fingers the dilapidated press box is heated. This game should be an easy one for Kentucky. Vanderbilt is not good, ranking last in the SEC in offense and second to last in defense. There will be more Kentucky fans in the stadium than Vandy fans, even if the last three games have taken the shine off a trip to Nashville. Even so, I’ll admit that I’m a little nervous.

The Mississippi State game was an all-systems failure for Kentucky on both sides of the ball. The offense bounced back vs. Tennessee, turning in one of the best performances of the Mark Stoops era; however, it was all for naught because of the defense. Brad White’s unit let Tennessee average 10 yards — a first down — per play. Not great, Bob! Vandy is nowhere near Tennessee in terms of offense, but if Kentucky’s secondary gives up big plays or we see multiple missed tackles, the grumbling will continue.

After the past few weeks, the BBN needs an easy, feel-good win on a Saturday night. Let’s hope the defense comes out with something to prove and the Cats deliver. This game has been tricky for Kentucky in the past. I’m going with the Cats to win, but just miss out on the cover.

Prediction: Kentucky 38, Vanderbilt 17

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Nick Roush

We’ll know everything we need to about this game after the first quarter. The Wildcats could sprint out to a big lead and blow the doors off the Commodores, or let Vandy hang around long enough to make this an ugly one, a la Chattanooga.

One of Liam Coen’s greatest strengths is his ability to script opening drives. The Wildcats have been excellent to start if they don’t turn it over. The key will be on the other side of the ball. Can the Kentucky defense do something good to regain some confidence? One early turnover would go a long way to start a blowout.

I love Kentucky over 20.5 first half points, but I do not love that big 21.5-point spread. A 20-point plodding win for the Wildcats in a sluggish second half feels par for the course.

Prediction: Kentucky 41, Vanderbilt 21

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Zack Geoghegan

Ah yes, the Vanderbilt Commodores… Where do we begin?

How about with them being the worst team in the Southeastern Conference? Yeah, that seems like a good starting point. Vandy has yet to win a game in the SEC this season while being outscored by 153 points in those five losses. The ‘Dores can’t score the ball and only Missouri is worse on defense.

Kentucky has won the last five outings against Vandy and quietly dominated the series history since 1960. UK is 41-19-1 over that span and I expect that first number to bump up to 42 later tonight. Will Levis, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and the rest of the Kentucky offense will build on the 600-yard performance from last week’s loss to Tennessee. The ‘Cats will run for at least 200 yards while Izayah Cummings has another breakout performance through the air.

It’s on defense where I don’t know what to expect. Mississippi State and Tennessee ripped UK in the passing game the last two weeks, but Vanderbilt will pose a far inferior attack than those two teams. Kentucky could use a couple of easy takeaways and Vandy has a -4 turnover margin on the year. Just don’t bet the ‘Cats to cover.

Prediction: Kentucky 38, Vanderbilt 24

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Drew Franklin

Kentucky is due for a get-right night after dropping three straight conference games. Nashville provides the perfect opportunity with the league’s worst team in Vanderbilt and a not-so-hostile environment of fourteen to fifteen Commodores fans in attendance. The rest of the crowd should be Blue. (White!)

As I see it, Chris Rodriguez will channel his inner-Derrick Henry (pre-injury Henry) after the Wildcats held their Friday practice at the Tennessee Titans’ facility (#TitanUp). Rodriguez will rush for 125+ on a defense that allows 185 rushing yards per game; while Will Levis and the rest of the offense ride the momentum and confidence from putting up 42 points against Tennessee, albeit in a loss.

Kentucky’s defense will hopefully get Marquan McCall back to help that defensive line return to form. Vanderbilt will score some points, but nothing close to hanging with Liam Coen’s weapons on the scoreboard.

Cats win big and cover. Big Blue Nation takes over Broadway. Wish I could be there to help them celebrate.

Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 13

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Jack Pilgrim

Vanderbilt is an abomination of a football team and don’t pose much of a threat Saturday evening with the Kentucky Wildcats in town. The only real question is just how far UK can spread the lead and how early they do it.

Chris Rodriguez rushed for season-high totals in both 2019 and 2020, finishing with 129 yards as a redshirt freshman and 149 yards as a redshirt sophomore. With a struggling run defense — No. 103 in the country to be exact — this is a game Kentucky can absolutely dominate on the ground. Expect another monster performance for C-Rod.

As a unit, the Vanderbilt defense allows 463.1 yards per game, good for No. 121 in college football. They’ve given up 40 touchdowns on the year and allow 6.63 yards per play. They’re just not very good as a unit, and it’s going to show on the scoreboard.

I expect Kentucky to jump out to an early lead and milk the clock out the rest of the way. As some of the team’s backups enter the game late, Vanderbilt puts some points on the board to make it look closer than it was.

Wildcats roll in Nashville.

Kentucky 42, Vanderbilt 17