Kentucky Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Preview
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa
When: Saturday, October 1, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Kentucky Wildcats (+35) at Alabama Crimson Tide (-35); total: 57.5 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Writer’s Pick: Alabama (-35)
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Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats (+35)
Kentucky extended its winning streak to two games with a gritty 17-10 victory over South Carolina on Saturday night. It was another convincing performance by the Wildcats who recorded their third straight series victory over the Gamecocks.
Leading the way for the Wildcats in this victory were running backs Stanley Williams and Benjamin Snell, Jr. Williams made his presence felt on the ground, rushing for 123 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. Snell also wreaked havoc against the South Carolina defensive line, racking up 73 rushing yards and a score. Kentucky totally dominated South Carolina in the ground game, outgaining them, 216-91.
What proved to be the difference in the contest, though, was the Wildcats’ exemplary defense. They held the Gamecocks to their lowest scoring output this season. Such was the Wildcats’ defensive pressure in this game that South Carolina converted just three of its 14 third-down attempts. The Wildcats will need to produce that same kind of defensive effort if they are to upset mighty Alabama this coming weekend. The Crimson Tide are 31st in the FBS in total offense, averaging 483.5 yards per game this season.
Kentucky is 1-9 SU and 3-7 ATS in its last 10 road games. The Wildcats are pegged at +50,000 to win the SEC Championship Game.
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (-35)
The Alabama Crimson Tide will head to their SEC showdown with Kentucky with momentum on their side after destroying Kent State, 48-0, on Saturday. It was another dominant victory for the Crimson Tide, who remained undefeated through their first four assignments. They have won their first four outings by an average of 31.8 points.
Key to Alabama’s scorching start has been their superb offense. The Crimson Tide are averaging 46.5 points per game this season, eighth-best in the entire FBS. Alabama dominated Kent in every facet of the game, including a whopping 502-166 advantage in the total yards department.
Such was the Tide’s dominance that head coach Nick Saban was able to give some valuable minutes to rookie running back Joshua Jacobs. The Oklahoma native didn’t disappoint, taking the ball 11 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He might get the starting nod against Kentucky this coming Saturday with Damien Harris still nursing a high ankle sprain.
With their leading rusher a major doubt for this weekend’s clash, the pressure is on Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts to deliver the goods against the Wildcats. He accounted for 218 yards and two scores in the win against Kent State. The good news for the Tide is that their defense looks to be working fine once again after their meltdown against Ole Miss in their previous game. The Tide’s 48-0 victory on Saturday was Alabama’s 18th shutout win under Saban.
Alabama is 10-0 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 home games. The Crimson Tide are pegged at +350 to win the national championship this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Alabama (-35) destroys Kentucky, 55-10.
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