BSNblog

Despite a bowl effort in his fi rst season with the Wildcats last year, Joker Phillip’s squad petered out down the stretch, going 2-4 SU and 1-4 ATS in its final six games.

Will the Bluegrass Cats open like last year’s 3-0 SU and ATS debut under Phillips or will they continue to underperform? We won’t lay substantial points to fi nd out, especially against a ‘Toppers team that made huge strides last season, winning their fi rst two conference games in school history.

WKU also snapped a 20-game ITS (In The Stats) losing skein when it outgained fi ve foes overall. Not onlydo the Sun-Belters return 17 starters overall (10 on defense), RB Bobby Rainey is back after rushing for 1,649 yards and 15 TD’s.

By comparison, UK’s loss of big-time playmaker WR Randall Cobb to the NFL represents just the tip of a troubling offensive iceberg: the Wildcats must replace 80% of their total rushing attack, 92% of their passing yardage and two receivers that combined for 1,942 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Kentucky is -19½ point favorites at Luxbet Mobile and the total is 51½.

Granted,Kentucky may have won and covered all three games as a big favorite last year – including a 35-point pounding of the Hilltoppers – but they’re about to run headlong into a revenge-minded bunch that boasts a 5-1 ATS mark of late as dogs of more than 17 points.

Yes, the game takes place at LP Field in Nashville (home of the Tennessee Titans) instead of WKU’s home turf in Bowling Green.