Kentucky’s return home after the statement win at then No. 9 Texas A&M brings a different kind of test Saturday in Lexington: a nonconference date with South Alabama, and the first real chance to see whether the Wildcats can avoid the kind of letdown Will Stein has already warned about.
The spotlight is squarely on Kentucky after the Cats finished as the second-highest voted team to just miss the AP Top 25 this week. That makes this game less about the opponent on the other sideline and more about the response. South Alabama is the second team from the Yellowhammer State Kentucky has faced, and the first one went badly, though the Jaguars do not bring Alabama’s level of firepower.
Inside The Cats’ Pause, the staff’s predictions leaned heavily toward a comfortable Kentucky win, with each pick building on the same idea: this is the kind of game the Wildcats should control, then use to get through the depth chart and preserve starters for what comes next.
Darrell Bird sees no letdown coming. He pointed to Will Stein’s history from his first season as Oregon’s offensive coordinator in 2023, when the Ducks rolled Portland State 81-7 and also topped 50 points twice in other “buy” game wins.
Bird expects Kentucky to keep its foot down after the upset at Texas A&M, noting Stein’s warning about avoiding the “rat poison,” a week of praise that can quickly turn into a trap. Bird’s view is that Kentucky needs to handle business convincingly enough to start emptying the bench midway through the third quarter and get reserves valuable snaps before seven straight SEC games.
His final call: Kentucky 55, South Alabama 10.
Josh Edwards is a little more restrained, but still firmly on Kentucky’s side. He noted that South Alabama has been competitive against Tulane and Ohio, and that the Jaguars have scored at least 24 points in every game this season.
Even so, he believes Kentucky’s talent edge should stretch this into a multi-score game. Edwards wants to see the Wildcats spread the ball around and keep players fresh ahead of next week’s matchup with South Carolina, while avoiding the kind of emotional hangover that can come after a huge win.
His pick: Kentucky 31, South Alabama 13.
Cole Parke expects Kentucky to look the part from the start. He said he does not believe the Wildcats will come out flat against the USA Jaguars, calling them too well coached for that kind of slip.
Like the others, he emphasized Stein’s “rat poison” warning, but said he is not skeptical in this case. Parke thinks Kentucky should build as large a cushion as possible before turning to the bench and protecting starters for the SEC stretch that begins with a road game at South Carolina.
He also tied the game to the chase for a ranking, saying the fan base cares about getting a number next to Kentucky’s name after the team just missed out following the win in College Station. Parke’s score: Kentucky 43, South Alabama 14.
Across the board, the expectation is the same: Kentucky should have enough to win big, lead comfortably by halftime, and use the back half of the game to get healthy and keep rolling into SEC play.
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Kentucky Fans Can Exhale After Brief Louisville Recruiting Scare
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For a program trying to keep momentum in its 2027 class, decisions like that matter because they can calm nerves quickly and keep the focus on building around the players already in the fold. Kentuckys class also includes several other prospects with their own positions, rankings and high school backgrounds, giving the Wildcats a group worth following as the cycle develops. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky May Have Found Another Receiving Threat At Last
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Rob Dillingham Just Landed In A Spot Kentucky Fans Should Watch
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Charlotte could be a meaningful spot for Dillingham because the opportunity looks real. He has one year left on his rookie contract, and the expectation is that he will have a significant role with the Hornets. For Kentucky followers, that makes this more than just another transaction line, since the next stretch of his development may now come with more touches, more responsibility and a clearer chance to show what kind of NBA guard he can become. [Read more 🡒]