Kentucky Wildcats to Visit Knoxville

The Kentucky Wildcats football team will travel to Knoxville this weekend to face the Tennessee Volunteers.

Headlines

The Volunteers (6-1) are slated to host the Kentucky Wildcats (3-5) this weekend. The Wildcats come into Neyland having lost their last 3 games. After losing to Vanderbilt in a close game 3 weeks ago, it’s been tough sledding since for the Wildcats. They’ve been solid on defense, holding their opponents to just 19.9 points per game. It’s been the offense that’s really held this team back. Kentucky is averaging just 19.1 points a game, which ranks them 111th out 134 teams FBS teams.

Tennessee enters this weekend with quite a resume this season with wins over Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida and a 41-point win vs North Carolina State back in week 2. Nico Iamaleava has this Volunteers offense averaging 34.7 points per game, which ranks 20th in the nation. However, the defense has been even more remarkable, allowing just 13 points per game, good for 5th in the FBS.

Things to Watch for

If Kentucky wants to keep up with Tennessee’s high-octane offense, they are going to have to get the ground game going with Demie Sumo-Karngbaye. Sumo-Karngbaye has tallied 419 rushing yards to go along with 4 touchdowns this season. Another thing to watch for in this game is Kentucky’s defense. This Wildcats defense held Georgia to just 13 points a few weeks ago, and they will look to do the same this week.

For the Volunteers, keep an eye on Nico Iamaleava and running back Dylan Sampson. Sampson is currently 2nd in the SEC in rushing with 838 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns. Tennessee’s dominant run game is part of the reason their passing game continues to be explosive. Look for the Volunteers to get the ball into Dylan Sampson’s hands early and often.