Western Kentucky @ Kentucky preview
Commonwealth Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2011 ) Western Kentucky 3, Kentucky 14
A year ago, when Kentucky slogged its way to a 14-3 win over Western Kentucky in the season opener, Wildcats quarterback Maxwell Smith was three weeks away from making his collegiate debut and farther away becoming entrenched as the starter. Since then, Smith has given the Kentucky offense a jolt with 634 passing yards through two weeks this season after it averaged only 136 passing yards per game in 2011. Western Kentucky will be hoping to get its offense back on track after absorbing a 35-0 shutout at the hands of top-ranked Alabama last week. The Hilltoppers had just 46 rushing yards on 28 carries.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Kentucky -7.5
ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY (1-1): Even after losing record-setting running back Bobby Rainey, the Hilltopper offense didn’t seem to miss a beat in its opening 49-10 win over FCS opponent Austin Peay. Western Kentucky piled up 596 yards of total offense, led by Kawaun Jakes’ career-high 296 passing yards and four touchdowns. Offense was harder to come by against Alabama, when Jakes, a fourth-year starter, was 20-of-31 for 178 yards with one interception. Freshman Leon Allen appears to be the heir to Rainey, who completed his eligibility as the program’s leading single-season and career rusher after topping 1,600 yards in 2011. Allen has carried a team-high 24 times for 119 yards in his first two games.
ABOUT KENTUCKY (1-1): Though Smith has charged the offense, the Wildcats’ questions on defense remain from a season ago when they finished near the bottom of the SEC against the run. Though they cruised past Kent State for a 47-14 win last week, they were burned for 219 rushing yards in a season-opening 32-14 loss to Louisville and have yielded more than 400 yards of offense in both games. Smith is spreading the ball around, hitting 11 different receivers against Louisville and 10 last week. Aaron Boyd, who was highly touted as a prep receiver, is finally starting to make an impact in his fifth year on campus. The 6-foot-4 senior entered the season with six career catches, but snagged 11 for 100 yards week and leads the team with 14 receptions on the year.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Last year’s 7-5 record was the Hilltoppers’ best since joining the FCS in 2008.
2. Kentucky leads the all-time series, which began in 2008, 3-0.
3. Wildcats true freshman punter Landon Foster is ranked third in the nation in net punting average at 48.8 yards.
PREDICTION: Kentucky 28, Western Kentucky 20