No. 17 Tennessee favors Kentucky SEC showdown after Alabama loss

The Tennessee Volunteers, ranked No. 17, are set to face the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in an SEC matchup, with Tennessee favored to win despite a recent loss to Alabama. Tennessee's quarterback Joey Aguilar leads a potent offense, having thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, while Kentucky struggles offensively but recently managed a close overtime loss to Texas. Tennessee's head coach Josh Heupel emphasized that the team lost to Alabama due to numerous small mistakes, including a critical interception returned 99 yards for a touchdown, highlighting ongoing issues such as missed tackles and penalties. Statistically, Tennessee excels in third-down conversions and turnover margin but struggles with penalties and red zone defense, while Kentucky's defense is among the weaker in third-down stops and turnover margin. The game is expected to be competitive, but Tennessee is favored to cover the spread and get back on track following their loss. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.