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Kentucky named Tennessee football’s most dangerous game in 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Mark Stoops of the Kentucky Wildcats shakes hands with head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Mark Stoops of the Kentucky Wildcats shakes hands with head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Looks like the Tennessee football Volunteers better worry about the Wildcats.

It’s no secret that Tennessee football will have a much harder schedule in 2020 than they did in 2019, even if they have a much better team. The Oklahoma Sooners, Florida Gators, Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs make for a brutal road.

However, 247Sports national analyst Bud Elliott has a different game for the Vols to focus on. According to Brad Crawford of 247Sports, Elliott said the Kentucky Wildcats are the most dangerous game for UT entering 2020, largely because of what the Vols are hoping to accomplish this year.

Given the fact that Tennessee football is trying to improve upon last year’s record, they need to run the table outside of those four games. As a result, Elliott has a point about Kentucky. Here is what he said on the matter.

"“Arkansas should be a get-right game for the Vols the week before, and a trip to Georgia looms the week after. And Tennessee could easily overlook Kentucky after beating the Wildcats in 2019.”"

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Of course, the Arkansas Razorbacks and South Carolina Gamecocks both being on the road could also be tough tests. This is why the Vols are projected to go 7-5 just barely on the ESPN FPI. While Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Georgia are written off as losses, South Carolina, Arkansas and Kentucky are effectively toss-ups.

In fact, the Gamecocks may be a tougher out than the Wildcats given the fact that the game is in Columbia, S.C. while the Vols face UK in Knoxville. However, just to hit pars based on these models, Kentucky is still a dangerous game, as it could result in Jeremy Pruitt’s third team even taking a step back this year.

Data suggests Kentucky is going to be really good also. Mark Stoops proved last year he can offset the loss of key talent, and he is clearly building a program at Kentucky that we haven’t seen in years. They could take another step forward in 2020.

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While Tennessee football has won the last two matchups, this all suggests that Kentucky really is no easy out. By that point, the Vols will have already played South Carolina and Arkansas as well, so those other toss-up games will be afterthoughts. This and Georgia being the next week explain why they could overlook the Wildcats, and Elliott is right to point out that they shouldn’t.

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