If college football seasons were won in the recruiting season (which, to be fair, they actually kind of are), then Tennessee and Kentucky would be in contention for the SEC East this year. Both programs have a lot of young talent under new(ish) coaches Mark Stoops and Butch Davis, and they showed some flashes this year, but they still have a ways to go.
How to watch Kentucky vs. Tennessee: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds
Which one of these up-and-comers can get closer to bowl eligibility?
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee finally stole an SEC victory in taking down South Carolina after a series of losses to start the conference schedule, and they’ll likely grab another win against Vanderbilt, but this will be their best chance to grab a third victory.
However, it won’t be easy. Since the Tennessee win, in which he didn’t play, quarterback Justin Worley had season-ending surgery. Joshua Dobbs had a very good game in his place against South Carolina, but Kentucky has a much better defense, and Dobbs struggled against Alabama. The UK defense was gouged for 63 points against Georgia last week, but it certainly can keep the Wildcats in this game and give them a chance to win.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Radio: Vols Radio | Wildcats Radio
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Our blogs on these schools
The numbers
Rankings and records: Kentucky is 5-5, while Tennessee is 4-5. Neither team is ranked.
Vegas: Tennessee opened as a 6.5-point favorite, but the line is now up to 8.5.
Weather forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high of 47 and a low of 32.
Two things at stake
Bowl eligibility! That’s at stake for both teams, as Kentucky can become bowl eligible with a win today. Tennessee would need to beat both Missouri and Vanderbilt to get to bowl eligibility if it loses. Kentucky would need to beat Louisville.
If Dobbs has another huge game, then Tennessee fans are going to get really excited.
One big matchup
Kentucky defense vs. Tennessee offense: The key is for the Kentucky defense to get to Dobbs. Both the Kentucky defense and the Tennessee offense have been inconsistent this year, so depending on who shows up, it could be a blowout either way, or it could be close. While Kentucky’s defense had an awful game against Georgia, the Wildcats have the ability to get to Dobbs, and if they can make him uncomfortable, they’ll have a good chance to pull the upset in Knoxville.
Further reading
Read A Sea of Blue for more on Kentucky and Rocky Top Talk for more on Tennessee.
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