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The Kentucky Wildcats (5-2, 2-2 SEC) will host No. 1 Mississippi State in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday. The Wildcats are coming off a 41-3 loss at LSU. The Bulldogs look to continue their perfect season with a road win against a rising SEC East program.
Mississippi State’s success is due in large part to the performance of quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott has 1,478 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions on 96-of-156 passing, while rushing for 576 yards and eight touchdowns on 106 attempts. The junior is a midseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, especially if his team continues its impressive run through a tough SEC schedule.
Prescott will face a Kentucky defense that features an improved front seven. The Wildcats rank No. 9 overall in passing efficiency defense, No. 78 in rushing defense and No. 61 in total defense with 415.4 yards allowed per game.
Senior defensive end Alvin “Bud” Dupree is a standout edge rusher. Dupree has excelled at both linebacker and defensive end, totaling 4.5 tackles for loss and a team-best three sacks. Teammates Josh Forrest and Jason Hatcher have also brought pressure to opposing backfields, tying for a team-high 5.5 tackles for loss. Forrest also leads Kentucky with 56 total tackles.
After opening the season with a surprising 5-1 record, many expect the Wildcats to be “brought down to Earth” by the loss to LSU. Facing the nation’s top-ranked team and a Heisman favorite, the odds aren’t good for the young Kentucky defense looking to capture an upset at home. Prescott should see another impressive performance to further push his Heisman candidacy.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
