Tennessee is a class above Kentucky, but can’t look past Wildcats to Georgia
By John Buhler
Tennessee is better than Kentucky, but it would be a shame if the Volunteers lost at home to the Wildcats before their big road game at Georgia next Saturday.
We all know what the big game on the schedule will be in Week 10, but right now, No. 3 Tennessee would be foolish to overlook No. 19 Kentucky ahead of their road date vs. No. 1 Georgia next week.
College football has a weird way of humbling rabid fanbases. A team is never as good as it looks and things are never as bad as they seem. Keep in mind 18- to 23-year-olds are playing in these 100,000-person football cathedrals. Emotions can get the best of them. This is why you can never count on anybody going undefeated. Tennessee may be elite, but it should not overlook Kentucky.
Doing so might be the worst thing to happen to them in the midst of their breakthrough campaign.
Tennessee is not good enough to overlook Kentucky heading into Georgia game
Admittedly, no team in college football is good enough this year to overlook a ranked conference opponent, especially an annual rival coming into your place. Although Georgia is markedly better than unranked Florida, the Dawgs nearly lost to a worse Missouri team earlier in the season, albeit on the road. While Tennessee will still probably beat Kentucky, the Wildcats could play spoiler here.
For as good of an offense as the Vols have, their defense leaves a lot to be desired. When you live by the shootout, you can die by the shootout. If Tennessee goes up against a stout defense and can’t keep the opposing offense off the field, the Volunteers will lose a game or two this season. Although Kentucky is not lighting the world on fire offensively, the Wildcats are a top-25 program.
Even if Kentucky is already out of the College Football Playoff conversation at 5-2, the Wildcats’ two losses are to two ranked teams in Ole Miss and South Carolina. The Rebels just suffered their first loss of the season in Death Valley at LSU. South Carolina has not suffered a defeat since getting embarrassed at home to Georgia. Kentucky is not a world-beater, but they can beat you.
Not to say Tennessee is poised to be upset here, but the Vols have not earned the benefit of the doubt to overlook anyone at this point in time. If this is a season where bucking trends becomes a trend, then Tennessee will stay focused and have no issues with Mark Stoops’ defense-first Kentucky team. If the Vols play their game and dictate terms, they will get to Athens undefeated.
However, a few turnovers combined with a handful of defensive lapses could flip this game right on its head. This is not cannon fodder coming into Neyland Stadium. Kentucky is the No. 19 team in the nation for a reason. Although Florida is not good this season, the Wildcats did go on the road and beat a bitter division rival in their place. They will need some help, but they could do it again.
Losing a night game at home to Kentucky could be ominous for Georgia mid-afternoon next week.
dark. Next. Who is the best remaining undefeated team in Week 9?
For more College Football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.