In preparation for Saturday’s SEC showdown between Kentucky and Florida in the Swamp, Saturday Down South is taking a look at the key matchups that may decide the game between the Wildcats and the Gators.

Kentucky offensive tackle Darrian Miller vs. Florida defensive end Dante Fowler

The Kentucky Wildcats have already allowed quarterback Patrick Towles to be sacked five times in their first two games of the 2014 season. Saturday, the Cats’ offensive line, namely left tackle Darrian Miller, will face its most dangerous pass rushing opposition to date in the form of Florida defensive end Dante Fowler.

The Gators’ junior pass rusher has tormented SEC offensive lines since beginning his collegiate career in 2012. He had a combined six sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2012 and 2013, and began his junior season on a similar note in a 65-0 win over Eastern Michigan last week.

Fowler registered three tackles, assisted on a tackle for loss and recorded two quarterback hurries against the Eagles.

He will likely line up in a number of different places along Florida’s defensive front in order to find an edge against the Kentucky offensive line. One lineman he’ll be looking to avoid is Miller, UK’s senior left tackle, who had made 24 consecutive starts before Mark Stoops sat him in week 1 as a disciplinary measure.

Miller is far and away the most experienced of the Cats’ offensive linemen when dealing with skilled pass rushers in the SEC, and although Fowler is a tremendous talent, he won’t bring anything to the table Miller hasn’t already seen in his career from the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Jarvis Jones, Michael Sam, the list goes on and on.

Kentucky has proven it has speed and athleticism at the skill positions, and Towles has proven himself more than capable of getting those athletes the ball in a position to make a play. The one area in which the Wildcats remain most vulnerable is along the offensive line, and Fowler could be the kryptonite that neutralizes the entire offense. If he is able to make himself at home in the UK backfield, the Cats won’t stand a chance of snapping their 27-game losing streak against Florida.

However, if Miller can anchor the offensive line, forcing Fowler to line up elsewhere while keeping Towles’ blindside clean, it would provide a huge lift to a Kentucky offense with enough athleticism to keep up with Florida on the scoreboard.