Kentucky Wildcats vs. Florida Gators Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 19th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Kentucky and Florida have been facing challenges this season, but one of these teams may find some relief by the end of the weekend. The Wildcats and Gators are set to clash in a Southeastern Conference matchup on Saturday night in Gainesville, Florida. Both teams are coming off of tough losses last week and are looking to bounce back. Florida (3-3, 1-2) is dealing with the loss of their starting quarterback, while Kentucky (3-3, 1-3) is struggling to find consistency on offense.
The Gators suffered a devastating blow when quarterback Graham Mertz suffered a season-ending ACL tear in their overtime loss to Tennessee. This adds to the already mounting frustration for Florida, who will be looking for a win on their homecoming weekend. Freshman DJ Lagway will now take over as the starting quarterback, after completing 9 of 17 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown in relief against Tennessee. Head coach Billy Napier expressed confidence in Lagway, who has played in every game this season and will benefit from a full week of first-team reps in practice.
Kentucky, on the other hand, was unable to build off their upset win against then-No. 6 Ole Miss and fell to upstart Vanderbilt 20-13 at home. This will be their second road game of the season. Head coach Mark Stoops remains optimistic about his team's ability to bounce back, stating that they have responded well to adversity in the past. However, they face a tough challenge in playing at "The Swamp" against a Florida team that is improving each week.
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The Wildcats struggled to convert their 23 first downs into points last week, scoring only 13 points. This has been a recurring issue for them this season, as they have scored 13 points or less in three games. Stoops emphasized the need to capitalize on scoring opportunities and limit penalties, as they committed a season-high 12 penalties against Vanderbilt.
Kentucky's top rusher, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, has been a bright spot for the team with 380 yards on the ground. Stoops praised his progress and growing confidence. He also noted the similarities between his team and Florida, stating that both teams are walking a fine line between success and failure.
Napier also recognizes the importance of this game for his Gators. He sees it as an opportunity for his team to learn and respond to adversity. Both teams will be looking to turn their season around and secure a much-needed win in this crucial SEC matchup.