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Kentucky football: 1 big reason why the Wildcats will upset Florida

By Mat Mlodzinski

Sep 23, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players wait to take the field before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players wait to take the field before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky football will aim to start 5-0 for the first time since 2021 when they began the season 6-0. Similarly to this season, the Wildcats’ fifth win of that season came at home against a ranked Florida Gators team.

This year, Kentucky football has another great opportunity to knock off the Florida Gators. It won’t be easy, but if the Wildcats get rolling on offense, they can pull off the upset.

Kentucky’s offense is nothing the Gators have seen

Through four games, including one against an SEC team in Vanderbilt, Kentucky football is averaging 38.0 points per game. That’s good for 25th in the country.

On the flip side, Florida is only allowing 13.5 points per game, 18th in the country.

Something has to break, and I believe it will be the Gators’ defense. So far, Florida has played Utah, McNeese State, Tennessee, and Charlotte. Taking McNeese (FCS) out of the equation, none of those teams have a particularly explosive offense. Utah is averaging 22.2 PPG. Tennessee is averaging 35.0 PPG. Charlotte only averages 19.0 PPG.

Of course, Tennessee’s offense isn’t too far behind Kentucky’s, but the Vols put those numbers up against a winless Virginia team, and UTA. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have scored 35+ points against three separate FBS teams, including 45 in last week’s win over Vanderbilt.

While I expect the Gators to slow UK down, I don’t see them holding them below 20 points. As long as Kentucky can figure out a way to score 24-30 points, they can be in the driver’s seat.

It will be important for Kentucky football to get off to a fast start. So far, that’s been an issue, although the Wildcats did a much better job against Vanderbilt.

Against a tougher Florida defense, it will be required to have success. The Gators have allowed 14 first-quarter points all season. For a team that has had struggles out of the gate, Mark Stoops needs to find a way to fix that this week.

Kentucky and No. 22 Florida will kick off at Noon at Kroger Field this Saturday.

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