Kentucky vs. Alabama game glance, opening odds, and early prediction
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The first game of the Will Stein era was magical, as Kentucky Football dominated Youngstown State, 45-13, with senior quarterback Kenny Minchey going off for 18/27 passing, 301 yards, and four touchdowns.
Now the real challenge begins for Kentucky, as the Alabama Crimson Tide come to Lexington next Saturday for the first true test of Stein as head coach, as well as Minchey and the rest of the Wildcats.
There will be plenty at stake in this game. Alabama won’t have much tape on Kentucky outside of the Wildcats’ season opener, while sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell will be playing his first true road game.
We saw what happened when former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons played Kentucky on the road. Simmons threw two interceptions early and was eventually benched for Trinidad Chambliss because he struggled to handle the pressure from a loud Kentucky crowd.
Saturday should be a zoo inside Kroger Field, especially with so many fans expected to pack the stadium. The atmosphere could be similar to what Kentucky experienced in 2021 when the Wildcats defeated Florida at home.
Speaking of Russell, he completed 18/30 passes for 256 yards and had one rushing touchdown but no passing touchdowns, though he did have several drops from his receivers that would have been scores. Kentucky will also have to contain Russell as a dual-threat quarterback who can take off when needed. He had 13 rushing attempts for 86 yards in Alabama’s opener.
Alabama also has a fairly evenly distributed running back room, with Daniel Hill carrying the ball nine times for 47 yards and EJ Crowell recording seven carries for 37 yards.
Ryan Coleman-Williams also had five receptions for 130 receiving yards.
Stein will be hungry for his first big win as a head coach, especially with Alabama coming to Kroger Field and the Kentucky fans expected to create an electric atmosphere. That crowd could play a major factor in the game.
Meanwhile, Alabama will be looking to avoid an upset in Stein’s first major test and prevent Kentucky from pulling off a statement victory.
Game:Kentucky Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Location: Kroger Field — Lexington, Kentucky
Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
Start Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV Channel: ABC
Online Streaming Info:WatchESPN
Radio:UK Sports Network
Opening Odds: Alabama is currently a 10.5-point favorite over Kentucky, according to FanDuel. ESPN gives Alabama an 82.5% chance of winning.
My Early Prediction: The Cats keep it close, but the Tide are able to get the victory. Final Score: Alabama 34, Kentucky 24
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