Tim Brando believes Kentucky will finish second in SEC East

Tim Brando is one the most recognized voices in college football, and according to him, the Kentucky Wildcats deserve more respect. During an appearance on “Crain & Company” yesterday, Brando picked Kentucky to finish second in the SEC East, two spots ahead of where the media ranked the Cats at SEC Media Days.

“I’ll tell you right now, I think Kentucky finishes second to Georgia in the SEC East,” he declared.

Brando’s reasoning? He believes Tennessee will be down after losing Hendon Hooker and, with a better performance from the offensive line, Kentucky would have won ten games last season.

“Tennessee, in my opinion, is going to be really challenged by the likes of Kentucky, by South Carolina, by teams in the East that are really good. I think Kentucky, they are still a factor. A lot of people want to throw dirt on that team because they lack imagination. Last year, if their offensive line had been a little bit better, I think they would have won 10 games but [Will] Levis was running for his life a little bit back there.

“I think that [Stoops’] defense is always good. Stoops has done, I think, a great job.”

Brando continued, arguing that teams like Kentucky, South Carolina, and Missouri don’t get the credit they deserve because the media pays too much attention to brand names like Georgia and Alabama.

“I think other teams in the East are really good and they get no love because of the fascination in the Southeastern Conference is to play heavy ball and just promote heavyweights. All the fans and even the websites, they talk Georgia, they talk Bama, they talk maybe a little LSU, maybe a little Florida because of history but they don’t ever want to go to South Carolina or Kentucky, Missouri.”

“Those [other teams] just never get the love they deserve when they’re good and I’m saying Kentucky’s good. South Carolina’s good. Missouri’s good. Those teams have improved.”

Preach, Tim. We need to get you on “11 Personnel” soon. To hear his comments for yourself, check out the video below starting at the 1:02:30 mark.

Take advantage of the KSR+ FALL CAMP SALE to get bonus preseason coverage, including practice reports, personnel rundowns, and scoop on KSBoard.