College GameDay is leaning hard toward LSU in Saturday’s matchup with Kentucky, but the panel didn’t exactly lock the door on the Wildcats.
Kentucky enters as an 8.5-point underdog, and while the crew agreed the game could stay tight, nobody on the set went as far as calling for a straight-up Kentucky win. Kirk Herbstreit made clear he was tempted to go the other way before sticking with LSU.
“If there’s ever a guy that wants to pick Kentucky and the upsets, it’s me,” said Kirk Herbstreit. “This feels like one of those Kentucky moments.
They almost did it against Alabama, and I picked them. Then they lost in the second half.
With all that being said, LSU. It’s going to be a close game, but LSU, they’re going to have to fight for it.
I think Winston Watkins is the difference in this game.”
Pat McAfee’s reaction was brief and blunt: “Oh no.”
That clean sweep setup would have been the kind of graphic that gets dragged back out later if the prediction misses, but it wasn’t a total shutout for Kentucky. Stanford Steve picked the upset, and Nick Saban backed the Wildcats as his Superdog.
“LSU has lost five in a row on the road. Kentucky is 4-1.
They look like a pretty good football team to me,” Saban said. “I’m taking Kentucky.”
Across the broader college football TV landscape, though, Kentucky is still fighting for respect. On SEC Network, Roman Harper made it clear he’s had enough of the Wildcats getting brushed aside.
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Kentucky Gets A Needed Boost Despite One Late Availability Concern
Kentuckys latest availability update brought some clarity going into the weekend, and it came with a bit of relief for a roster that has already spent plenty of time juggling injuries. Under the SECs new weekly reporting policy, the Wildcats had to file an official status update Friday, and it confirmed several players will be unavailable, including defensive tackle Kalen Edwards, who moved from doubtful to out.
Even with that setback, the bigger picture is more encouraging for Kentucky as it heads into the next game. The Wildcats are still expected to be short-handed, but the sense around the program is that at least three of the teams top players are on track to make it back onto the field, giving the roster a much-needed boost at a time when depth has been tested. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Fans Get A Game Day Warning Before Sold Out LSU Night
Kentucky fans heading to Kroger Field for the sold-out LSU game are being asked to plan for more than just a full house Saturday night. Kentucky Athletics issued a weather advisory ahead of the 7 p.m. ET kickoff, noting that rainy and windy conditions are expected and that the program has already adjusted its game-day plans accordingly.
The most visible change is a rescheduled halftime drone show, while fans are being urged to come prepared with rain gear and to make sure tailgating items are secured before heading inside. The department also put out additional traffic and parking guidance to help handle the crowd, a reminder that a major SEC night at home can turn messy even before the teams take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky's Passing Surge Is Making One SEC Program Look Wrong
When Kentucky went looking for help in the passing game, Kenny Darby fit the kind of profile that can change a room quickly: a freshman receiver with SEC-level upside who had already been through a recruiting detour before landing in Lexington. Darby originally committed to LSU, but the new coaching staff did not keep him in the fold after Lane Kiffins arrival. Once Will Stein brought Joe Sloan aboard as offensive coordinator, Darby flipped to Kentucky and has wasted little time turning opportunity into production.
Through five games, Darby has become Kentuckys leading receiver, and the pace he is on has the Wildcats watching their freshman record book with real interest. He is tracking toward several program marks for a first-year pass catcher, which only sharpens the sense that Kentucky may have found more than a useful addition. For LSU, it is another reminder that roster turnover can come with a cost, and for Kentucky it is a sign the passing game is beginning to find a player who can grow into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]