The battle to crawl out of the cellar in the SEC East will commence under the lights in Lexington on Saturday night. Kentucky and South Carolina have plenty in common besides early losses. Each has inexperienced quarterbacks who have the ability to run the ball. And they’re still looking for a go-to target to emerge at receiver.

Kentucky enters after a win over New Mexico State; the game was tied at halftime and the Wildcats scored 27 points in the second half. South Carolina got off to a hot start against East Carolina, but the Pirates hung around and had a chance in the end before it fell short.

Here’s a detailed look at how they match up:

When South Carolina has the ball

Brandon McIlwain vs. Kentucky pass defense: McIlwain is coming off a hot start before the Gamecocks’ offense bogged down in the middle of the game. The Wildcats have historically struggled against quarterbacks who run the ball, and that’s McIlwain’s trademark. The true freshman has 80 rushing yards and two touchdowns so far, but 34 of those yards and both scores came last week. McIlwain has had mixed results passing the past two weeks, and he’s facing a Kentucky secondary that is last in the SEC, but was hailed in the preseason as a strength.

Edge: South Carolina

A.J. Turner/David Williams vs. Kentucky run defense: Another category where Kentucky is last in the SEC, the Wildcats are giving up an average of 243 yards per game. That’s led to eight touchdowns by their opponents. Fortunately for Kentucky, it faces the SEC’s worst rushing offense this week. Turner just eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the season last week, and McIlwain has played as integral a role as anyone in the backfield. Part of the issue is the constant shakeups of the offensive line, which might come to an end this week.

Edge: South Carolina

Deebo Samuel/Bryan Edwards/Hayden Hurst vs. UK defensive backs: While Samuel is expected to return, his lingering left hamstring issues leave some to wonder how dependable he can be. After all, he only played in five games last year, but this was supposed to be his breakout season.

Hurst and Edwards are capable targets as they’ve combined for 27 catches, but have yet to score. In fact, the two receiving touchdowns for South Carolina have gone to Turner and tight end K.C. Crosby. The secondary was one area that Mark Stoops criticized following the Florida loss. And while the Wildcats have six interceptions, they’ve yielded 855 yards and nine TDs, including 277 yards against New Mexico State, which completed half of its passes.

Edge: South Carolina

When Kentucky has the ball

Stephen Johnson vs. South Carolina pass defense: The junior college transfer who wasn’t even on the Wildcats’ roster until January now is the starter for the foreseeable future. But he did replace the injured Drew Barker and, after a shaky first series, went 17-for-22 for 310 yards and three TDs last week against New Mexico State.

The strategy should be interesting both because of Johnson’s inexperience and Barker’s prognosis means Johnson should start for at least several weeks. The Gamecocks are coming off a game in which they survived because of their play in the red zone, as East Carolina entered six times and left with just nine points. They gave up 400 yards and a touchdown, but also had two interceptions.

Edge: South Carolina

Stanley “Boom” Williams/Benjamin Snell Jr./Jojo Kemp vs. South Carolina run defense: Kentucky has several concerns, but not at running back, especially after Snell’s performance last week with four TDs. Williams is the workhorse already with 43 carries despite the 1-2 start. Kemp, who sat out with an ankle injury last week, rejoins a backfield that is seventh in the SEC and second in rushing TDs. Though the Gamecocks have given up just one rushing touchdown this season, Mississippi State exposed them for 290 yards on the ground.

Edge: Kentucky

Jeff Badet/Garrett Johnson/C.J. Conrad vs. South Carolina defensive backs: Kentucky has yet to have a go-to receiver emerge, but the Wildcats do have three players who have caught a touchdown and more than 100 receiving yards. The Gamecocks shook up the secondary against East Carolina as Jamarcus King had his first career start, and Chris Moody and Steven Montac were new starters at safety. And Chris Lammons responded to criticism by his head coach with an interception and overall solid game.

Edge: South Carolina

Special teams

Each team has a player who leads the SEC in kick or punt returns in A.J. Turner and Charles Walker, and Walker even scored last week against New Mexico State. Each are middle of the pack or worse in punting, while Elliot Fry proved against Vanderbilt he can make a clutch kick from distance.

Edge: South Carolina