Back to Business: Bama Back in Action Against the Wildcats
Kentucky has never beaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Does that change today?
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Photo: Jason Marcum, SB Nation Sea of Blue
For Alabama fans, it seems like forever ago that their beloved Crimson Tide has been in action. Take heart, Tide Nation, it’s back to business this coming Saturday at Bryant-Denny as the Kentucky Wildcats come-a-calling!
Kentucky has been a good story in 2020. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, in his eighth year at the Wildcat helm, is a terrific story in himself, as he has taken a program in the shadow of a basketball juggernaut and has made a real name for Kentucky football. Stoops has led the ‘Cats to four straight bowl games and four straight winning seasons. Even though the ‘Cats enter this weekend’s contest with a 3-4 record, Stoops and crew has been impressive on the field. Their losses to Auburn (29-13), Ole Miss (42-41 in overtime), Missouri (20-10), and Georgia (14-3) have certainly been respectable, and have come about largely due to struggles on the offensive side of the ball. Kentucky ranks 10th in the conference in total offense, averaging 318 total yards of offense and 23 points per game. ‘Cats quarterback Terry Wilson has had his moments, passing for 712 yards and 7 touchdown passes. Kentucky is coming off a strong offensive performance against Vanderbilt (I know what you are thinking...don’t say it) where they put up 38 points in a 38-35 win last Saturday in Lexington. The Wildcats defense has kept them in most games, ranking fourth in the conference giving up 362 yards and 21 points per game.
Photo: Jacob Noger, UK Athletics
The Kentucky defense is stout, led by stud junior linebacker Jamin Davis.
Alabama is coming off an unexpected two week break courtesy of LSU’s COVID issues, and that is bad news for the Wildcats. Traditionally, the Bama-LSU game is physically and emotionally draining (for players, coaches, and fans!) and the week after has tended to be a bit of a struggle for the Crimson Tide as they typically need a lot of time in the hot tub to mend from a tussle with the Tigers. Instead, Kentucky gets a rested, hungry, top-ranked Tide that continues to set its sights on a conference title and a national championship run. The Bama defense has been an area of improvement throughout the season, has climbed to #5 in the conference giving up 22 points per game, and continued improvement is expected after having an extra week to work out the kinks that hampered this talented unit early in the season. The Tide offense is potent and led by our man, quarterback Mac “Daddy” Jones, who is completing 78% of his passes for 16 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. Senior back Najee Harris is having a terrific senior campaign, amassing 14 rushing touchdowns, and the receiving corps led by DeVonta Smith (759 yards and 8 touchdowns) coupled with a dominant, experienced offensive line has created a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Currently, the Tide offense ranks #2 in the conference, averaging 555 yards and 41 points per game.
Statistics say that Alabama's offense against Kentucky’s strong defense should provide for a good matchup. In order to have a shot at this one, the ‘Cats will have to find ways to get Jones off of his game through pressure, and the defense will need the Alabama offense to be rusty. Perhaps Kentucky can sustain a few drives and get a special teams touchdown or a pick-six to aid their offense, and maybe, just maybe, Alabama will be looking ahead to their annual Iron Bowl clash with Auburn next week.
The Crimson Tide holds an all-time 37-2-1 record against Kentucky, the Wildcats last beat Bama in 1997 (40-34 OT victory), and has never beaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Can the Wildcats do the unthinkable and shock the Tide, sending the college football playoffs into utter chaos? Can Kentucky channel their inner basketball and deal Tide fans the misery of an actual loss on the football field? Here’s thinking...no. The Tide scores early and often, the defense continues to show improvement, and the Tide Rolls BIG into Auburn week.
Alabama 47
Kentucky 13