Kentucky football: Prediction for every game on Wildcats 2022 schedule
By Eric Thorne
MAC attack round 2 as Kentucky hosts and beats Northern Illinois moving to 4-0
Venue: Kroger Field
City: Lexington, KY
Overall Matchup Record: 0-0
Last meeting: First meeting
It’s the second school from the MAC to cross state lines into Kentucky and this time it’s another team picked to win the MAC title. But just like the Red Hawks in week 1, this Huskies team will head home with a defeat.
Miami is expected to win the MAC East while Northern Illinois the MAC West so no cupcakes in either non-conference game for Kentucky.
This would normally be and still could be a trap game for a Kentucky football having its head swell being undefeated, climbing the rankings approaching the Top 10. Yet, they could dangerously be looking ahead to going on the road the following week to play at Ole Miss.
Rodriguez serves what probably will and hopefully the final game of his suspension and hopefully, the Cats have remained injury free through four games as the SEC gauntlet is about to get underway.
UNI went 9-5 and 7-2 in the MAC and lost a thriller 47-41 to Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl. The Huskies won’t lay down without a fight and Stoops has to have his guys ready and not thinking beyond.
Following four games Kentucky could and should have some gaudy stats pilling up – hopefully.
Will we know this team’s true identity by this point? Probably not just yet we need to face some serious SEC competition week-to-week. Scangarello and defensive coordinator Brad White have now had time through four games to get things right and fine-tuned.
Northern Illinois has the talent to deliver some blows to Kentucky, but it’s how the Cats react that will give us an indication of who the leaders are, what are they made of, and how mature have they gotten through four games.
With that said, Levis will be in the game the whole way as he is the leader while driving the bus and molding the moxie of the players around him. Wildcats are battle tested for SEC play after winning 41-24 and are a perfect 4-0.