Blue Preview: Storyline, odds and key players to watch for UK football at Vanderbilt

Mark Story
·2 min read
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Kentucky at Vanderbilt

When: Noon (EDT), Saturday.

TV: SEC Network

Announcers: Play-by-play, Taylor Zarzour; analysis, Matt Stinchcomb; sideline, Alyssa Lang

Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1.

Satellite Radio: XM Channel 190, Sirius Channel 109, Internet Channel 961.

Records: Kentucky 3-0, 0-0 SEC; Vanderbilt 2-2, 0-0 SEC

Series history: Kentucky leads the all-time series with Vanderbilt 48-43-4 and has won seven of the past 10 meetings.

Most-recent meeting: Vanderbilt upset Kentucky 24-21 on Nov. 12, 2022, at Kroger Field.

Line: Kentucky is favored by 14 points.

The storyline

After Kentucky’s three largely unsatisfying victories over teams from outside the Power Five to begin the season, UK travels to Vanderbilt for the 2023 SEC opener while seeking a “payback victory.” Last season, the Commodores snapped a 26-game losing streak vs. league foes in Lexington. Saturday’s game is a homecoming for Wildcats running back Ray Davis, who ran for 1,042 yards last season while playing for Vandy.

Kentucky wide receiver Tayvion Robinson (9) hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Devin Leary eight seconds before halftime in UK’s 35-3 victory over Akron last week. Robinson, a super-senior slot receiver, leads the Wildcats in receptions (14), receiving yards (260) and receiving TDs (three).
Kentucky wide receiver Tayvion Robinson (9) hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Devin Leary eight seconds before halftime in UK’s 35-3 victory over Akron last week. Robinson, a super-senior slot receiver, leads the Wildcats in receptions (14), receiving yards (260) and receiving TDs (three).

The number to watch

Third-down conversion percentage. Kentucky-Vanderbilt is a matchup of two defenses that have had a difficult time in 2023 getting off the field. Out of 130 FBS teams, the Commodores stand No. 110 in third down conversion defense, having allowed first downs on 46.9 percent of such scenarios (30 of 64). Kentucky is two places worse in those standings at No. 112, having surrendered first downs on 47.7 percent of its foes’ third-down tries. Saturday’s game could come down to which defense can get third-down stops.

Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White’s unit getting third-down stops could be the key to UK’s game at Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White’s unit getting third-down stops could be the key to UK’s game at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

The big threat

Will Sheppard. Last season, the Vanderbilt wide receiver caught an 8-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds left to give the Commodores the upset victory at Kentucky. This year, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior has emerged as Vanderbilt’s primary offensive threat. Through four games, the Mandeville, Louisiana, product has caught 25 passes for 314 yards and six touchdowns.

Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) caught five passes for 88 yards, including the game-winning touchdown, in the Commodores’ 24-21 upset of Kentucky last season at Kroger Field.
Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) caught five passes for 88 yards, including the game-winning touchdown, in the Commodores’ 24-21 upset of Kentucky last season at Kroger Field.

On the spot

Barion Brown and Dane Key. Expected to be the primary playmakers for the Kentucky offense in 2023, the sophomore wide-outs had a rough go in UK’s 35-3 win over Akron last week. Brown, the 6-1, 166-pound Nashville product, caught only two passes for 19 yards. Key, the 6-3, 195-pound product of Frederick Douglass High School, had no catches vs. the Zips. It was the first time in 16 college games that Key has not had at least one reception. For the Kentucky season to take a positive arc, the Cats need more from their talented sophomore wide-outs.

Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key, right, put his arm around classmate Barion Brown during the “Cat Walk” before the Wildcats’ 35-3 win over Akron last Saturday.
Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key, right, put his arm around classmate Barion Brown during the “Cat Walk” before the Wildcats’ 35-3 win over Akron last Saturday.

The mood

Is concerned. In what began as a season with high fan expectations, worry has mounted as the Wildcats offense has been unable to “clean up” its mistake-laden play. For the Big Blue Nation, the hope now is that the Cats playing better competition will lead to greater in-game focus.