Saturday Quickies: Beat Vanderbilt Edition

Good morning, Big Blue Nation.

It’s a big day as the Kentucky Wildcats get back to the gridiron to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Kroger Field tonight at 7:00 PM.

The Cats are a double-digit favorite over the floundering Dores. Derek Mason’s team is winless in the SEC but they have shown flashes of fight. They went down to Notre Dame and very well could have won that game. They gave the Florida Gators all they wanted for a half.

Still, UK is a superior team and they should defeat Vandy to get back on the winning track and to get back to a bowl game for a third straight season.

Tweets of the Day

Will Calipari secure his first big man for the 2019 class?

Quickes

Kentucky vs. Vandy preview and prediction | Lexington Herald Leader- I think Mark Story is dead on with this statement:

The mood

Is uneasy. What has been a feel-good Kentucky football season has hit a bit of a speed bump in the past six quarters with the Wildcats’ offense going suddenly stagnant. The Long-Suffering UK Football Fans have seen Mark Stoops-coached Kentucky teams start seasons 5-1 twice before. In 2014, the Cats followed that up by going 0-6 the rest of the way. Last season, a 5-1 UK start yielded a 2-4 in the final six games. A reinvigorated offensive performance against Coach Derek Mason and Vanderbilt would reassure UK backers that the 2018 Cats will not fritter away this latest 5-1 start.

This football team at Kentucky may be the best we have seen in our lifetime but there is a part of our fandom brains just waiting for a collapse.

UK $49 million stadium gets a name | WDRB- The Bat Cats new home will be called the Kentucky Proud Park. The state of the art facility will be one of the best in the country and is perfect for the emerging baseball team.

Week 8 bold predictions | Saturdays Down South- If Kentucky wants to be really special then this is something that they will have to do at some point:

Kentucky passing?

Yes, given two weeks to watch the film from UK’s tough loss to A&M, coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Eddie Gran will know that the Wildcats have to demonstrate reasonable capability in the passing game to beat Missouri, much less Georgia. UK will dedicate itself to a safe passing game that nets around 200 yards. That’s the big news from this one, which UK wins by 20.

Nick Richards named to awards watch list | Cats Pause- I think most people have high hopes for Nick Richards after struggling most of last season. He showcased more confidence in the Bahamas and looked like a different player. If Nick Richards makes the leap from freshman year then I do think the Cats will be a national title contender and the favorite.

Kentucky’s Blue/White game on Sunday | UK Athletics- Some fans were a little miffed that they weren’t able to see a full on scrimmage at Big Blue Madness. Well they will get their chance as the intersquad scrimmage will take place Sunday at 7:00 PM on the SEC Network.

5 things to watch for: Vanderbilt at Kentucky | The Tennessean- Looking at the five things Vandy has to do to win tonight seems like a tall order. Hopefully our guys aren’t taking this game for granted.

Kentucky vs. Vandy predictions | Anchor of Gold- The folks over at the Vandy SB Nation site aren’t too high on their team.

Bob Huggins likes his chances with Oscar Tshiebwe | 247- As he should. I don’t think it’s going to be much of a shock when Tshiebwe picks the Mountaineers.

Aidan Igiehon picks the Cards | ESPN- Speaking of not a shock, top 100 big man Aidan Igiehon picked the bum Cards yesterday. Chris Mack has been on this kid for years and it was never clear on whether or not he even held a scholarship offer from Kentucky.

Predicting week 8 headlines | Saturdays Down South- The folks over at SDS are predicting a big night for Kentucky as they make history when they pound Vandy.

Odds of one win teams making a playoff run | ESPN- The Cats fail to make this list but Florida clocks in at number four. I guess UK going down to the Swamp and beating their brains in doesn’t count for much.

Week 8 picks against the spread | Sporting News- Kentucky is rarely picked to cover. A lot of good vibes going into this game. I hope they don’t let us down.

Vanderbilt at No. 14 Kentucky (-11)

The Commodores travel to Kentucky, which had a bye week and won last year’s meeting 44-21. The power running game wears on Vandy, which has allowed 183.3 yards per game on the ground. Kentucky gets back on track in the SEC East race. Kentucky wins 34-20 and COVERS the spread.

Ladies win another SEC game | UK Athletics- The 15th ranked volleyball team earned another sweep in the SEC as they defeated Mississippi State.

After a 2 week absence due to a Disney trip and the bye week, I’ll be back on ESPN 680 immediately following tonight’s game vs. Vanderbilt. I’ll have Mark Stoops press conference live, player sound, analysis, and YOUR phone calls. We are the only show to cover everything as soon as the game is over and the only show you can sound in on.

Here’s how you listen:

Call me at 502-267-9680 and text in at 502-437-9680.