Kentucky football vs. Vanderbilt: Prediction, keys to game

Kentucky will play in a bowl for the seventh year in row. The Wildcats beat Missouri 21-17 last week. Before Mark Stoops' arrival, UK had played in 15 bowls in its history. Kentucky is 6-3 with a 3-4 record in Southeastern Conference play. They play their last three games at home, starting with Vanderbilt at noon on Saturday.

Kentucky's offensive line has struggled this fall protecting the quarterback Will Levis. Missouri notched six sacks last week. For the season, the Wildcats have allowed 35. The number is the highest among all Power 5 teams. Vanderbilt has only 13 sacks in 2022, tied with South Carolina for fewest in the SEC. Coach Mark Stoops wants his line to show improvement. He wants them to get the ball out of the right spot.

Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square were injured against Missouri. Trevin Wallace and D'Eryk Jackson stepped up to fill their void. Wallace made a game-high nine tackles and had three tackles for loss. Jackson made six takedowns.

Wallace and Jackson earned rave reviews last week. They will play together again on Saturday.

Matt Ruffolo is the starting kicker for Kentucky football. He missed two field goals last week. The sixth-year senior has made just two of his last seven attempts this season. Stoops is not worried about his form. Ruffola is honest and he knows Stoop's well enough to tell him if he wasn't confident.

Kentucky is favored by 17.5 points against Vanderbilt.

Kentucky is going to beat Vanderbilt. The Commodores haven't beaten an SEC team in more than three years. Kentucky's passing attack will feast on Vandy's defense.