Прогноз Кентукки против Вандербильта: смогут ли вернувшиеся Wildcats отплатить за неуважение?

For the first time this season, Kentucky football will be the betting favorite against an SEC foe when it faces Vanderbilt on Saturday.

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With a win ahead of a bye week, the No. 12 Wildcats can move into playoff pole position when the committee’s first rankings are released Nov. 3. The threat of a letdown is real, though, with Will Stein’s team not able to play the underdog card this week.

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Can Kentucky clinch a winning season in SEC play for just the third time since 1977? Here is what you need to know about the matchup with Vanderbilt.

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What a difference a year makes

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As a 10.5-point favorite against Vanderbilt, Kentucky may not be able to play the underdog card, but Stein was quick to point out last season’s result in his news conference this week for a reason.

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“I think it’s a really good football team,” Stein said of Vanderbilt. “I don’t think any of us in this room or this organization need to be fooled by any type of record. Last time I checked, they embarrassed Kentucky last year, so we know what they are able to do in all three phases.”

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The embarrassment Stein referred to was the 45-17 loss in Nashville last November. Vanderbilt led 45-3 at the end of the third quarter in that game.

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Just more than a week later — after another embarrassing blowout loss to Louisville — Mark Stoops was fired. The program was in disarray, leaving a massive rebuilding project for Stein once he was hired.

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That rebuilding project may have gone better than anyone could have reasonably expected, but the taste from the 2025 Vanderbilt loss still lingers for returning players.

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“I feel like the last two years they kind of disrespected us a little bit, and they did stuff to disrespect us,” linebacker Grant Godfrey said. “…Even coach (Jay) Bateman, he’s been showing us stuff they did to us and the tweets they made and all that, TikToks. We’ve been seeing that every day. So, we got to come out, play hard and just show them what’s up.”

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Godfrey and safety Ty Bryant pointed to Vanderbilt’s decision to call a timeout and give quarterback Diego Pavia a curtain call after he had broken the program’s single-game passing yards record (484) as one example of the perceived disrespect. Bryant also noted Vanderbilt players posing for photos on UK’s logo after the 2024 win in Kroger Field as a perceived slight.

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“I’m not taking anything away from the team,” Bryant said. “I mean, they came out there and did what they did, but I just think it’s just disrespectful, like the extra stuff that they were doing. That’s where it rubs me the wrong way. Me being a competitor, me giving my all to the game every single day, that’s where it rubbed me the wrong way.”

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Regardless of any perceived disrespect, it is clear Vanderbilt winning three of the past four games in the series was the most obvious sign a change in the program was needed.

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Stein has already proven to be the right hire for Kentucky, but a comfortable win against the Commodores would be another step in showing the failures of the final years of the Stoops era are behind UK.

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Vanderbilt quarterback has bright future

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Vanderbilt’s dip in fortunes this season has coincided with the departure of Pavia, but there is still reason to be excited about the future at quarterback.

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Freshman Jared Curtis, the No. 4 recruit in the high school class of 2026 according to the 247Sports Composite, is the most-hyped recruit in program history. He has yet to live up to his recruiting buzz, but the talent is still obvious.

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“I recruited him heavily at Oregon, so I know him very well,” Stein said. “He is a freak show. He’s very young, but in terms of the tangibles of the position — being able to throw it, arm talent, running strength — he is a prototype first round type talent. He has growth ahead of him, but he gets better every single game.”

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Curtis ranks 12th in the SEC in passing yards per game (207) and has thrown more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (six).

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There have been glimpses of his potential, though.

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In the win over N.C. State, he threw for 277 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 64 yards on 12 carries. Last week, he threw for 274 yards in a loss to Arkansas but threw two interceptions with just one touchdown.

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“I’m not saying he’s these players, but in terms of play style, it’s like a Josh Allen-type style in terms of he can run it and he runs hard and physical and he’s got arm talent to literally throw a 70-yard bomb,” Stein said. “He’s going to be one of the best players in college football as his career goes.”

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Kentucky football injury report

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It was a mixed bag of news for Kentucky on the SEC availability report.

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Star running back CJ Baxter, who missed the Oklahoma game, was listed as probable to play against Vanderbilt on Wednesday then removed from the report on Thursday, indicating he is available. Backup defenders Tavion Wallace and Kalen Edwards were also initially listed as probable then removed from the report on Thursday.

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Linebacker Sam Greene and wide receiver Nic Anderson were downgraded to out on Thursday, joining Antwan Smith, Jaden Smith and Grant Grayton on the unavailable list. Long snapper Cole Marszalek and defensive lineman Tyler Thomas were listed as questionable.

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Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt prediction

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An emotional letdown would be understandable for Kentucky this week after the roller coaster of the past three games. A bye week next week and the reminders about the recent results versus Vanderbilt (3-4, 0-4) should be enough to avoid a complete collapse, though. Kentucky 35, Vanderbilt 21.

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The final word

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“I really think we have really good coaches too. I mean, what Joe (Sloan) has done, Parker (Fleming), Jay, all of our staff, the work that they put in, the messaging that they put in, it’s allowed us to keep fighting and to keep finding ways to win. And it’s another tough test this Saturday. The SEC has no gimmies, and we got to continue to fight and continue to play well.” — Stein on UK’s success so far

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