Kentucky football: 3 most overrated teams on 2023 schedule
3. Louisville Cardinals
A staple on the Kentucky football schedule, the Wildcats will visit their biggest rival to end the season on Nov. 25.
ESPN Matchup Predictor currently has Kentucky with a 57.2% chance of winning, but I think that number should be much higher.
Last season, the Cardinals finished 8-5, but lost to Kentucky, 26-13. Of course, this year’s game is at home, but it’s less about the location and more about what this new Louisville team has to offer.
Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and Louisville’s starter comes along with some questions. Jack Plummer transferred from Cal, where he only led the Bears to a 4-8 overall record. His stats weren’t bad – Plummer threw for over 3,000 yards, resulting in 21 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. His completion percentage was average, at 62.5%. Plummer is also a strict pocket passer, rushing for -126 yards last year. Kentucky’s defense should be licking their chops knowing if they can get past the U of L offensive line, they can really affect the passing game.
The return of running back Jahwar Jordan does make the potential of Louisville’s offense intriguing. Jordan rushed for over 800 yards in 2022 and is one of the top backs in the ACC. However, the rest of the offense is unknown. Only one starting receiver is back with the team, as Louisville went the route of the transfer portal for most of their skill position players.
A tough Louisville defense is still intact, as six starters return, interestingly, the same number as the Wildcats have back. Although the Cardinals boasted one of the top defenses in the country last season, a revamped Kentucky offense should be able to score points, especially after putting up 26 on them last year.
Overall, it just seems as if Louisville has more questions than answers, compared to a Kentucky football squad that has a higher upside on offense and a similar defensive ceiling. Experts will say this game is virtually even, and while I wouldn’t go as far as to strongly disagree, I would predict another Wildcats win by 10-14 points.