Mizzou football vs. Kentucky: Five things to know before Missouri Tigers play Saturday
Nothing lasts forever, and the Missouri Tigers’ perfect season came to an end last week after LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Tigers scored a go-ahead touchdown with just under three minutes remaining.
Following that 49-39 defeat, Missouri looks to get back in the win column — and potentially the AP Poll — with a trip to Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday to face the No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats.
The Wildcats fell four spots in the AP rankings following their 51-13 loss to the juggernaut No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs, with Kentucky managing just 183 yards of total offense to Georgia’s 608. So this weekend’s MU game features not one but two teams coming off hard losses.
Here’s what else you should know before kickoff Saturday ...
Mizzou football vs. Kentucky game details
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14
Where: Kroger Field (Lexington)
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Tiger Radio Network
Early betting line: Kentucky is a 2.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 51.5.
Five things to know: Mizzou vs. Kentucky
Kentucky has the best defense Mizzou has seen all season. Despite allowing 51 points to Georgia last week, Kentucky still fields the best defense the Tigers have faced so far this year. Allowing 21.1 points per game (15.8 before last week’s blowout), the Wildcats have also been more skilled at stopping the run than the rest of the SEC. Kentucky allows 92 rushing yards per game, second in the conference behind Texas A&M with 84.
The Tigers haven’t won in Lexington since 2013. It’s been 10 years since Mizzou has walked out of Lexington with a win, dating to a 48-17 Tigers victory on Nov. 9, 2013.
Mizzou’s been getting drilled through the air. Over the past four games, Missouri has allowed an average of 310 yards per game through the air. The Tigers have also allowed at least three passing touchdowns in three of those four contests.
QB Brady Cook matches up well against Kentucky’s pass defense. As noted above, the Wildcats’ defense has been very solid overall. Their pass defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete throws at a 67.8% clip, and Mizzou QB Brady Cook is averaging a 71.8% completion rate so far this season.
Kentucky RB Ray Davis is a player to watch on Saturday, but Mizzou’s defense might limit him. Davis currently ranks ninth nationally in rushing yards this season, collecting 653 while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. However, aside from the high-scoring LSU game, the Tigers have allowed just one rushing touchdown all year.
