Another Tough Slate For The Wildcats
The 2023 SEC Media Days are in the rearview mirror and the start of the season is directly ahead. For Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats they’re looking to improve on last year’s 7-6 mark. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen is back along with prized transfer quarterback Devin Leary. UK upgraded the Big Blue Wall and the defense is solid. However, they’ve got to navigate their non-conference schedule and then always tough SEC. With that in mind today we’re ranking Kentucky’s 2023 opponents from 12-1. The higher the number the more confident we are in a Wildcat victory.
Games The Cats Should Win
12. Akron- September 16th- The Zips finished 2-10 and last in the MAC’s eastern division. Unless something crazy happens the Cats should roll easily.
11. Eastern Kentucky- September 9th- At this point, you’re probably saying “Wait, you have an FCS team ranked tougher than a MAC team?” Let us explain our reasoning. EKU went 7-5 and made the FCS playoffs. In addition, the Colonels led the Cats in the second half of their last two meetings. We actually thought about putting them ahead of the next game.
10. Ball State- September 2nd- The season opener and Kentucky’s other “MAC-tion” for 2023 should be an easy win. The Cardinals went 5-7 last year and have had losing records in eight of the last nine years.
9. At Vanderbilt- September 23rd- A revenge game against the Commodores? That’s certainly on the agenda. We hate to bring up bad memories but a season ago Clark Lea’s squad broke a 26-game SEC losing streak beating the Cats in Lexington. The focus should be no issue in this one. Especially when you factor in five “voters” who picked Vandy to win the overall SEC championship while UK only got one.
8. At Louisville- November 25th- Scott Satterfield is out and Jeff Brohm is in for the Cardinals. Over the last four years, Kentucky dominated the “Battle Of The Bluegrass” by a combined 122 points. However, one sportsbook actually has the Cards as a one-point favorite. Mix it all together and the Cats should have plenty of motivation.
As we continue ranking Kentucky’s 2023 opponents let’s move to the next set of games. In order for the Cats to make a good bowl game they need to win all of these.
Needed For A Big Season
7. Missouri- October 14th- Kentucky’s won seven of the last eight against the Tigers. This has the makings of a trap game as it comes right after they travel to Georgia.
6. Florida- September 30th- The tables have definitely turned in this series over the last few years. UK’s won three of the last five and two straight against the Gators for the first time since 1976-77. You have to go back to 1948-1951 for the last time Kentucky won three straight against Florida.
5. At Mississippi State- November 4th- If we’re being honest the Bulldogs aren’t supposed to be that good in 2023. In fact, the Last Word writers have them near the bottom of the West. The reason this game is so high is that as many in the Big Blue Nation know Stoops has had little to no success on the road against the West. In fact, UK hasn’t won in Starkville since 2008.
4. At South Carolina- November 18th- Usually this game happens much earlier in the year. However, in 2023 it’s moved to the final SEC match-up. Shane Beamer’s club won in Lexington last year but the Cats were without Will Levis. Kentucky’s won seven of the last nine in the series and three of the last four in Columbia.
As we wrap up our ranking of Kentucky’s 2023 opponents let’s look at the final set of games. Should the Cats win a couple of these then the BBN might be heading to Atlanta.
Going To Take Some Work
3. Tennessee- October 28th- Following their bye week a visit from the Vols opens the difficult last part of the schedule. Tennessee had a magical season in 2022 and open this year as the clear second pick to Georgia. The Wildcats have been the proverbial “close but no cigar” in the last two meetings in Lexington losing 45-42 and 17-13. Hopefully for Cat fans the third time’s the charm.
2. Alabama- November 11th– The last time Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide came to town was all the way back in 2013, Stoops’ first year. Kentucky’s defeated Alabama once since 1922, the 40-34 overtime win in Lexington in 1997. If there’s a silver lining for Cat fans this one comes after Alabama faces Tennessee and LSU in consecutive weeks.
1. At Georgia- October 7th– Kirby Smart’s club is trying to become the first school since Minnesota in 1934-36 to win three straight championships. UK’s played the Bulldogs better than anyone last year holding them to a season-low 16 points. It’s a monumental task winning “between the hedges” in Athens. Should the Cats beat Georgia for the first time since 2009 no couch in the state would be safe.
Taking an overall look at the schedule you’ll notice the perceived easier games are all in the first half of the season. Starting with Tennessee on October 28th the back half of the slate is about as tough as it gets. Thanks for ranking Kentucky’s 2023 opponents with us here at Last Word On College Football. Agree or disagree with our picks? Let us know in the comment section below.
Photo courtesy: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
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