Kentucky Football: More pressure on the Cats or the Vols and other Headlines

Football is back tonight for the Kentucky Wildcats. They’re down in Knoxville for what is sure to be an exciting game against the Tennessee Volunteers. It’s always a big game when the Cats face off against the Vols but tonight is especially important now that Tennessee is the third ranked team in the country with the East potentially on the line next week against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Unless Kentucky can win tonight and ruin the special season for the Vols.

While this game is huge for the Orange, make no mistake that this is a huge game for Blue. Kentucky has two losses on their record that easily could have been wins. But late mistakes against Ole Miss and a bad game plan/not having Will Levis for South Carolina knocked Kentucky out of the top ten and dashed hopes for a ten win regular season.

This is a chance for Mark Stoops to right those wrongs. Win at Tennessee tonight, then Kentucky can recapture some of the early magic of the season, A win means that the Georgia game in Lexington will mean something again.

I’ve heard all week that Tennessee has it all on the line and therefore has all the pressure on them. There’s plenty on the line for Kentucky. This isn’t a game where we look back and say “Oh well, they competed and kept it close on the road.” A loss here would sting. A loss here knocks Kentucky down a peg in the SEC hierarchy.

But a win tonight would put Kentucky back in the national spotlight as one of those very respected and dangerous teams.

Tweets of the Day

Tyrese Maxey is having his breakout season.

Headlines

Big Blue Preview: Kentucky at Tennessee | UK Athletics- The Wildcats have the defense to at least slow down the Vols but do they have the offense to score with them?

Five keys to victory for Kentucky football | Vaught’s Views- The Cats are going to have to play clean, damn near perfect football to bring a win home from Knoxville.

Is DJ Wagner a lock to Kentucky? | Cat’s Illustrated- There were rumblings that Wagner was going to commit late last week but obviously that didn’t happen. Is the G-League emerging as an option is he still a Cat in waiting?

Will Levis named to Golden Arm Award top ten | Cats Pause- This could be a night for Will Levis where he cements his legacy at Kentucky.

Week 9 Bold Predictions | SDS- This is how I see the game going. I so badly want the Cats to win but I’m not sure they have the firepower to do it. Kentucky crushed the Vols in time of possession last season and still came up with a three point loss.

College football picks | CBS- Not many nationally are picking the Cats to cover and even fewer are picking them to win straight up. This is a win, if it happens, that would send shockwaves throughout college football.

Phillies comeback win was an absolute thriller | Sporting News- The Astros led 5-0 and the Phillies stormed back and won 6-5 in ten innings. I hope this series goes seven and every game is like that one.

Tennessee blows out Gonzaga in pay-per-view scrimmage for charity | Rocky Top Talk- Rick Barnes looks to have a squad in Knoxville while Gonzaga did what they always do: fold against superior talent. Look for something similar when the Cats play them in December.

Nets decry Kyrie Irving’s support of anti semitic film | ESPN- Kyrie Irving has been nothing but a headache for the Nets ever since he left Boston for Brooklyn.

Catch me back on the air tonight after the Cats take on the Vols! I am hoping this will be a celebratory show and not a “Woulda, shoulda, coulda show” where I take sad calls.

Either way, it’s your first way to react to the game and (maybe) hear coach Stoops.