At 5-2, the bye week finds Kentucky having a pair of wins over ranked teams to its credit (Florida, Mississippi State), but also with a pair of losses, 1 agonizing (Ole Miss) and the other (South Carolina) an oddly flat and uninspired game.

With 5 games left, Kentucky still has a wealth of possible outcomes in play, from sneaking into a lower-tier bowl game to ending up in a New Year’s Six game (although that one takes some work). Here’s our look ahead to the 2nd half of the Wildcats schedule — and an early prediction for each game.

Saturday, at Tennessee

This game was circled on the calendar of many Kentucky fans who still have a bad taste in their mouths from just-missed-it home losses to the Vols in 2019 and 2021. Kentucky did beat Tennessee in 2017 and in Knoxville in 2020.

But with UT now a top-3 team, there’s an increasing sense that by going 2-8 against a pretty subpar group of Tennessee teams, Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops missed his easy chance at making up significant long-term ground on the Vols.

Tennessee’s offense is daunting, but Kentucky’s defense has been one of the best in the SEC. If Kentucky can run the ball and protect Will Levis like it did against Mississippi State, the Wildcats figure to have a puncher’s chance. That said, this Vols team has not only been explosive, they’ve been very good at not beating themselves.

Prediction: Tennessee 38, Kentucky 31

Nov. 5, at Missouri

This is a potential trap game for the Wildcats. Win or lose in Knoxville, it figures to be an intense, emotional game. Missouri is not flashy whatsoever, but its defense does a pretty good job limiting the opposition (4th in the SEC in yardage allowed).

That said, Missouri’s offense is not exactly big-play material — the Tigers are among the lowest-ranked teams in the SEC in explosive plays. Winning on the road in the SEC is never easy, and so this one probably won’t be either.

Prediction: Kentucky 24, Missouri 17

Nov. 12, host Vanderbilt

On the other hand, Vandy has perhaps the SEC’s worst defense. Plenty of recent UK/Vandy games have been 14-7 (2018), 20-13 (2016) or 17-7 (2014).

That said, the Commodores just don’t have the players to hang with Kentucky’s offense up front. As long as the Wildcats defense isn’t beat to death, this one shouldn’t be particularly competitive.

Prediction: Kentucky 38, Vanderbilt 13

Nov. 19, host Georgia

The goal for Kentucky has to be getting to this game in a situation where it’s truly meaningful. If the Wildcats can upset Tennessee on Saturday and the Vols upset Georgia the following week, the SEC East could still be on the line in this game.

Georgia is a lousy matchup for Kentucky — the Wildcats haven’t beaten the Bulldogs since 2009. And while this Georgia team is nowhere near as consistent as some of its predecessors — and the game is in Lexington — as things stand, beating Georgia is a big ask for this Wildcats team. If Kentucky beats Tennessee and the Vols beat Georgia, all bets are off. But unless that happens …

Prediction: Georgia 35, Kentucky 20

Nov. 26, host Louisville

The Cardinals have had a rough season and could be teetering on the edge of missing a bowl when this game is played. All the usual bromides apply about throwing out the records and the stats in a rivalry game.

At the same time, not only is 2017 the last time Louisville won this game, but it’s also the last time Louisville was even IN this game. The past 3 meetings were decided by scores of 56-10, 45-13 and 52-21. Yes, Louisville might be a bit better. Yes, Kentucky might be a little less explosive. But not THAT much less.

Prediction: Kentucky 42, Louisville 21

An 8-4 Wildcats team would fit well into the ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly the Outback Bowl) against a Big Ten foe, maybe Illinois.