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Kentucky vs. Tennessee Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 9

By Reed Wallach

Oct 15, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis (7) catches a snap
Oct 15, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis (7) catches a snap / Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
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Two SEC rivals hope to make a statement ahead of the final stretch of their season.

Kentucky travels to Tennessee in hopes of spoiling the Vols' College Football Playoff bid a week ahead of their massive game against No. 1 Georgia.

Will Mark Stoops' group come through as a big underdog?

Here are the odds for this one:

Kentucky vs. Tennessee Odds, Spread and Total

Kentucky vs. Tennessee Betting Trends

  • Tennessee is 6-1 against the spread (ATS) this season
  • Kentucky is 5-2 ATS this season, 3-0 as an underdog
  • Tennessee is 5-2 to the OVER this season
  • Kentucky has gone UNDER in six of seven games

Kentucky vs. Tennessee Prediction and Pick

I think the bye week should do wonders for Levis and the Kentucky offense, which has battled injuries of late. Levis missed the South Carolina game (loss) and was hobbled throughout the win against Mississippi State at home. Now, the team gets him healthy and prepare to take on a vaunted Tennessee offense.

The Vols have a stingy rush defense, top 15 in success rate and EPA/Rush, but they can be had through the air, ranking outside the top 100 in passing game success rate. While the Wildcats don't have a dynamic player in the passing game to help Levis like Wan'Dale Robinson from last season, the offense has proven it can stretch the filed, ranking top 10 nationally in yards per pass attempt and explosive pass rate.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky defense could be up to the task of slowing down this Tennessee offense. Kentucky is fifth in overall success rate and 24th in completion percentage allowed. They are vulnerable to the big play (outside the top 100 in explosive pass rate) but this is a defensive line that should keep Tennessee behind schedule with a top 25 unit in line yards.

With Georgia on deck, I can see a potential look ahead spot for the Vols, who may let Kentucky hang around far longer than the team would like with such a big game next weekend. I lean towards the Wildcats catching double digits.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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