Kentucky’s future looks brighter than it has in a while.

Even though most national media outlets peg Kentucky to finish either fifth or sixth in the SEC East, most also believe the Wildcats have a chance at a bowl game. ESPN’s Football Power Index calculates Kentucky’s season to end at 6-6. Stewart Mandel at Fox Sports thinks the record will look more like 7-5.

SEC Network recently did its own game-by-game prediction for the Wildcats’ 2015 season. Analysts Matt Stinchcomb and Greg McElroy started by listing the games they agreed were sure wins and losses for Kentucky. Here are the wins:

  • vs. Louisiana Lafayette
  • vs. Eastern Kentucky
  • at Vanderbilt
  • vs. Charlotte

They listed only one definite loss: at Georgia on Nov. 7.

Every other game was up for discussion. Below are the game-by-game predictions with some of the main talking points for each:

Sept. 12 — Kentucky at South Carolina

Predicted result: Win

Stinchcomb: “Right out of the gate, I think Kentucky announces their presence with authority. I think they actually beat South Carolina on the road, which is something they did not do a very good job of last year.”

McElroy: “South Carolina is going to be better, I think. Kentucky is going to be better. The home field advantage is the determining factor. I’m going to lean towards South Carolina.”

Moderator Peter Burns had to step in as the tiebreaker, and he went with the Wildcats. “Optimism!” said Stinchcomb with a nod.

Sept. 19 — Florida at Kentucky

Predicted result: Win

McElroy: “Absolutely Kentucky wins this one. Florida: no quarterback answers, no offensive line answers right now, not sure what they’re defense is going to be, especially in their front seven — linebackers — some issues with injuries right there. I really like Kentucky a lot to win this one at home.”

Stinchcomb: “I think Kentucky actually has a little bit of confidence going towards Florida knowing they had a shot at it last year.”

It’s worth noting that SEC Network’s Chris Doering and Clint Stoerner believe the exact opposite, that Florida will beat Kentucky, no questions asked. We’ll just have to wait and see which analyst duo got it right.

Sept. 26 — Missouri at Kentucky

Predicted result: Loss

Stinchcomb: “Last year, it was kind of an underwhelming victory by the Tigers. And frankly, other than the schedule, there’s very little that I’m compelled by by the Missouri Tigers like the Kentucky Wildcats. I think they beat Missouri.”

McElroy: “I feel like we always under-appreciate Missouri. They’re going to be tough. You know they’re going to be well-coached, dialed in. I got to lean towards the Tigers over the Wildcats.”

Burns broke the tie by siding with McElroy, stating that the Wildcats will get caught up in their first three wins of the season.

Oct. 15 — Auburn at Kentucky

Predicted result: Loss

Stinchcomb: “I don’t think it’s much of a contest, frankly. It’s one of those games where you think they’d sneak up on Auburn, perhaps they do. But if not and the Tigers see them coming, I don’t think that they’re in that ball game.”

McElroy: “I think the Thursday night home game when you have to travel is tough. I have to also lean towards the Auburn Tigers. I expect that game to be closer than people realize, though.”

Oct. 24 — Kentucky at Mississippi State

Predicted result: Win

McElroy: “This game could turn out a little bit like the trip to LSU last year. Mississippi State at this point will have had six games to be able to get their feet wet and allow some of the other position battles to grow around Dak Prescott. I got to lean towards Mississippi State.”

Stinchcomb: “I got Kentucky winning this ball game. If you think about last year, they were two deep defense that played a lot. Geoff Collins yanked his twos. Kentucky exposed Mississippi State defensively a season ago.”

This time Burns sided with Stinchcomb to give Kentucky the win, much to the surprise of McElroy.

Oct. 31 — Tennessee at Kentucky

Predicted result: Loss

Stinchcomb: “I think Kentucky drops to Tennessee once again. Some of these streaks are meant to live on. I think Tennessee actually gets the victory.”

McElroy: “Crazy things happen on Halloween. I also think Tennessee gets the win.”

I didn’t know Halloween was a valid point to bring up during football analysis.

Nov. 28 — Louisville at Kentucky

Predicted result: Win

Stinchcomb: “It was a great game last year when you look at it, maybe their best game because they had to get off the slide. I think Kentucky ends the season with a bang with yet another victory.”

Final Predicted Record: 8-4