Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Four of 2019
Kentucky Wildcats at Mississippi State Bulldogs
Line: Mississippi State -6.5; Over/Under: 48.5; TV: SEC Network
Saturday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. E.T.; Davis Wade Stadium; Starkville, Miss.
Both teams started 2-0 against Group of Five schools, and then both suffered heartbreaking losses last week against Power Five Schools. Oh, they also both play Tennessee football and are must-win games for the Vols if they are to have any hope of turning the 2019 season around. So that’s one intriguing storyline.
Anyway, the Kentucky Wildcats completely controlled the Florida Gators last week until Kyle Trask came into the game. They choked that one away and should easily be 3-0 and 1-0 in the SEC instead of 2-0 and 0-1. They’ll be looking to respond this week on the road in a game that could have serious bowl implications down the stretch of the season.
Joe Moorhead’s Mississippi State Bulldogs, meanwhile, lost at home to the Kansas State Wildcats after leading in the third. But the story, as the young players develop in their second year with his system, is quarterback Tommy Stevens being pulled for Garrett Shrader last week and then Shrader generating the highlights with his helicopter dive. What impact will that have here?
Prediction
If Feleipe Franks doesn’t get hurt, Kentucky beats Florida. They are clearly reloading on defense under Mark Stoops. Mississippi State, meanwhile, is more quarterback driven. There are questions on that front. UK looked much better last week, so provided they remain motivated, they’ll dictate the flow of the game, meaning the pull off the upset in a low scoring affair that hits the under.