Kentucky vs South Carolina football prediction, betting line, more

Kentucky football team in 2021 did a lot of things right but didn't respond well the first time things went wrong. This version of the Wildcats will look to better navigate those circumstances when they play South Carolina at Kroger Field on Saturday.

Kentucky lost to Ole Miss last time. Mark Stoops' team is looking to bounce back this time around. South Carolina has started the season with a loss to Arkansas and a win over Georgia. The Gamecocks are 0-2 in the SEC.

Kentucky is 7-2 against South Carolina. Last season's 10-win team won 16-10 in Columbia. This is the only meeting between the current Kentucky coach and the Gamecocks' current coach, Shane Beamer.

Kentucky's defense is trying to stop South Carolina's quarterback Spencer Rattler. The Gamecocks are scoring 35.6 points per game. Ratter is a transfer from Oklahoma and the No. 1 quarterback in the high school class of 2019. He has thrown seven interceptions this season and has more TD passes than TD throws.

Kentucky lost to South Carolina in 2019. Chris Rodriguez has scored his first career touchdown in that game. Rodriguez ran for 139 yards and three touchdowns in the Cats’ 2020 win over the Gamecocks. Last season he ran 144 yards. In three career games against South Carolin, Rodriguez carried 46 times for 348 yards, only Vanderbilt has surrendered more yards to Rodriguez.

Kentucky is favored by 10 points against South Carolina.

Kentucky's offensive line should start to click against South Carolina's porous pass protection. The Gamecocks have only four sacks. Kentucky's defense was locked in last week against Ole Miss.