There’s nothing like a game when a division leader, ranked No. 12 in the nation, goes to a team ranked last in the division … as a touchdown underdog. But that’s where we are when tradition-challenged Kentucky heads to CoMo to take on unlucky Missouri in an SEC East showdown. What’s going down? Let us take a bold prediction … or 10.

1. Kentucky is going to play multiple QBs, but Terry Wilson is still the man

UK coach Mark Stoops has all but promised to play multiple QBs, but the speculation around the campfire is that much of the talk might be a motivational ploy for Terry Wilson, who has struggled in decision making in recent weeks. Wilson is still the man in Lexington.

2. Mizzou’s ground game will be pivotal

With much of the attention for this game focusing on Drew Lock vs. the Kentucky pass defense, many forget how good Larry Rountree and Damarea Crockett have been for the Tigers on the ground. The Tigers have rushed for 200 yards per game, and their multi-dimensional nature makes them different than most teams Kentucky has taken down this season.

3. As good as Missouri’s passing game is, Kentucky will exploit it (at times)

Sure, Mizzou passes for 300 yards per game. And sure, Drew Lock’s SEC stats are worse than UK QB Terry Wilson’s. But Mizzou will hit some plays in the passing game. Kyle Shurmur threw for 216 yards last week against Kentucky. From Kentucky’s standpoint, the question isn’t whether Lock will hit some passes, but whether UK can exploit the Mizzou passing game for either big negative plays (See UK LB Josh Allen and his 8 QB sacks) or for turnovers (consider safety Darius West’s whose scoop and score helped UK stay in the game against A&M or linebacker Kash Daniel, whose strip last week against Vandy set up the game-winning score for UK). Missouri will pass for 250 or so, but UK will turn them over a couple times.

4) Albert O. will have a big game

The only thing harder than spelling or pronouncing Albert Okwuegbunam is stopping him. It hasn’t been a banner year in the SEC for tight ends and Kentucky hasn’t faced much of a challenge on that front. While Josh Allen has the athleticism to drop back in coverage, Albert O. will find some seams in the Kentucky defense. Look for him to have a 5-catch, 80-yards kind of day with a touchdown.

5. Benny Snell becomes 6th SEC RB ever with 3 1,000-yard seasons

Snell is the leading rusher in the SEC and he enters the game with 868 rushing yards. Given that he has 58 carries for 309 yards in his two prior games against the Tigers, it’s hardly going out on a limb, but he’ll cross the 1,000 yard barrier on Saturday, making him the first SEC player to do so this season. That also would make him just the sixth SEC RB ever to have 3 1,000-yard seasons. The list? Herschel, Darren McFadden, Kevin Faulk, Alex Collins and Nick Chubb.

Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

6. Tucker McCann will have a busy day

The Tigers’ kicker is tied for second in the SEC with 15 field goals on the season. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s defense has allowed only 6 touchdowns in 17 red-zone possessions. We can’t call for McCann to match the 5 field goals he hit against South Carolina, but we’ll call for 4 kicks between the posts on Saturday.

7. Kentucky will go with a new kicker

While McCann has connected early and often, UK is just 3-for-7 on field goals with former walk-on Miles Butler. Enter true freshman Chance Poore, who figures to get a shot Saturday. Given Kentucky’s sometimes sluggish offense, Poore could be pivotal.

8. Missouri will gain the yardage battle …

It’s not a huge shock, as Kentucky gains just under 359 yards per game offensively, but Mizzou will win the yardage battle. We called for 250 in the air and perhaps another 150 on the ground, and that will best Kentucky by 50-75 total yards.

9. … But Kentucky will win the turnover battle

Meanwhile, Mizzou and Kentucky have each committed just 10 turnovers in seven games. The difference is that Kentucky has forced a dozen while Missouri has forced 8. Missouri will move the ball well between the 20s, but Kentucky will get a couple of turnovers, one around the red zone and the other deep in Missouri territory, which gives the struggling UK offense a short field.

10. The team that scores first wins

Ultimately, even more than most games, this matchup will revolve around dictating pace and style. If Mizzou can draw Kentucky into a shootout, it’ll be tough for UK to keep up. If Kentucky can grind out an early lead, they can sit back and dare Lock to beat their secondary. It’s a football truism, but consider it even more true in this game — whoever scores first will win.