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College football Week 9: 5 teams on upset alert

By Cody Williams

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 20: Blake Barnett #11 of the South Florida Bulls celebrates a touchdown during a game against the Connecticut Huskies at Raymond James Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 20: Blake Barnett #11 of the South Florida Bulls celebrates a touchdown during a game against the Connecticut Huskies at Raymond James Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – OCTOBER 20: Benny Snell Jr #26 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Commonwealth Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – OCTOBER 20: Benny Snell Jr #26 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Commonwealth Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Kentucky Wildcats

Rank: 12 | Opponent: Missouri Tigers | Time: 4 p.m. ET

There’s no questioning the fact that the Kentucky Wildcats are one of the biggest surprises of the 2018 college football season. While many thought that Mark Stoops’ team would be solid, almost no one was calling for this team to enter the ninth week of the season with only one loss on their record and sitting as the No. 12-ranked team in the country. Yet, that’s where we stand as the Wildcats go on the road to face the Missouri Tigers.

Overall, Missouri has struggled mightily in SEC play. That’s not entirely their fault as they’ve played a tough three-game slate to this point, losing to Georgia, South Carolina (in a close one) and Alabama. Having said that, we might see more from the Tigers in the second half of their conference schedule as the competition lightens up at least a bit.

What’s interesting about the matchup between Kentucky and Missouri in Week 9, though, is the fact that they are polar opposites on offense. The Tigers air it out with Drew Lock at quarterback and are one of the most potent passing attacks in the league. Meanwhile, Benny Snell and this Kentucky offense almost exclusively move the ball on the ground and win the old-fashioned, dirty way.

While both can be effective, Missouri’s style puts them in a position to succeed in this game. If the Tigers offense gets rolling, it takes Kentucky out of control and forces them to play like a team they simply aren’t. Because of that, the Wildcats have to be on upset alert come Saturday.

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