Kentucky's tough four-game run began with Louisville two weeks ago and continues Saturday with the Florida Gators. The Wildcats come in as heavy underdogs, not surprisingly, and it's unlikely they'll be able to put an end to their long losing streak to their division foes.
How to watch Florida vs. Kentucky 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
The Gators go for a 2-0 start to SEC play, while Kentucky is trying to pick up its first win over the Gators since the 1980s.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Florida is fresh off an ugly win over Tennessee last week that cost the team starting quarterback Jeff Driskel for the season. Backup Tyler Murphy was solid in relief, calming some fears about how the Gators' offense would perform without Driskel. (Not that it was exactly potent with Driskel running the show.) Now we'll see how Murphy handles his first start on the road. Defensive tackle Dominique Easley joins Driskel and a host of other Gators missing time with injuries, many of them serious.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Florida comes in at 2-1 (1-0), ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches’ Poll. Kentucky is 1-2 (0-0) and unranked. The Gators hold a 46-17 edge in the all-time series and have not lost to the Wildcats since 1986.
Vegas: The Gators are 12.5-point favorites, while the over/under is 46 points.
Weather: A high of 82 is expected, with only a slight chance of rain.
Three names to know
Tyler Murphy -- Murphy made a fine first impression, completing 8-of-14 throws for 134 yards and a score while also carrying the ball 10 times for 84 yards. If he comes back with another strong performance, the Gators probably won’t have to fret too much about losing in Lexington.
Avery Williamson -- Williamson is a crucial part of Kentucky's defense and leads the SEC in tackles this year with 35, including 15 against Louisville. He figures to be busy again this week.
Maxwell Smith / Jalen Whitlow -- Kentucky still has the two-headed quarterback thing going on, with mixed results. Smith has by far been the better passer, averaging 9.7 yards per attempt while tossing four touchdown passes and no interceptions. Whitlow gives the team a dual-threat dynamic that Smith can't, though -- Whitlow is second on the team with 160 yards rushing.
Two things at stake
Since Georgia is playing a tough one against LSU on Saturday, Florida could find itself in sole possession of first in the SEC East with a victory over Kentucky; at minimum, a win keeps the Gators tied for first with UGA. They would have time to make up for an upset defeat here, but a setback would hurt -- especially if Murphy were to struggle in the process.
Kentucky would love to add a statement win to its record during Mark Stoops’ first season, and the Wildcats are going to have several chances to pick one up. Realistically, though, the Wildcats should be more concerned with some of the smaller steps of their rebuilding project.
How to witness
TV: ESPNU (7 p.m. ET)
Online streaming: ESPN3
Further reading
For more on the Gators, visit Alligator Army. Full Wildcats football coverage can be found at A Sea of Blue.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
