Tennessee is better than Kentucky, but it would be a shame for the Home Volunteers to lose to the Wildcats ahead of their big road game in Georgia next Saturday.
We all know what the big game is on the Week 10 schedule, but for now, it would be foolish to overlook Kentucky’s No. 19 third-placed Tennessee ahead of kick-off against #1 seed Georgia next week.
College football has a weird way of humiliating a rabid fanbase. The team is never as good as it seems and things are never as bad as they seem. Keep in mind that people between the ages of 18 and 23 play in these football cathedrals of 100,000 people. Emotions can get the best of them. That is why you cannot count on anyone who will not be defeated. Tennessee may be elite, but Kentucky should not be overlooked.
Doing so may be the worst thing that can happen to them in the midst of their massive campaign.
Tennessee isn’t good enough to overlook Kentucky heading into the Georgia game
Admittedly, no college football team is good enough this year to overlook a conference ranked opponent, especially an annual competitor who comes to your place. Although Georgia is noticeably better than unranked Florida, Dogs almost lost to a worse Missouri team earlier in the season, albeit on the road. While Tennessee will likely still beat Kentucky, the Wildcats could play a spoiler here.
For an attack quality like the Vols, their defense leaves a lot to be desired. When you live on penalties, you can die on penalties. If Tennessee goes up against a gritty defense and can’t keep the opposing attack off the field, the Volunteers will lose a game or two this season. Although Kentucky doesn’t set the world on fire aggressively, the Wildcats are among the top 25.
Even if Kentucky is already out of the College Football Playoff conversation at 5-2, the Wildcats’ two defeats are to Ole Miss and South Carolina seeded teams. The Rebels just suffered their first loss of the season at LSU’s Death Valley. South Carolina has been undefeated since feeling embarrassed at home in Georgia. Kentucky is not a racket for the world, but they can beat you.
Not to say Tennessee is poised to freak out here, but the volumes didn’t benefit from suspicion of overlooking anyone at this time. If this is the season where offense trends become a trend, Tennessee State will remain focused and have no problems with Mark Stubbs’ Kentucky First Defense team. If the Vols members play their game and dictate the terms, they will reach Athens undefeated.
However, a few twists combined with a few defensive lapses can turn this game on its head. This is not cannon fodder coming to Knyland Stadium. Kentucky is the 19th team in the nation for a reason. Although the Floridas aren’t doing well this season, the Wildcats took to the road and beat a top-tier competitor in their place. They’ll need some help, but they can do it again.
Losing a night game at home to Kentucky could be ominous for Georgia in the middle of the afternoon next week.
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