Upset Alert? What national pundits and local experts predict for Kentucky vs. Toledo

Is Kentucky on upset alert against Toledo? We've gathered predictions from national names like Josh Pate and local experts at KSR to see who thinks the Cats will win.
Oct 2, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (1) walks outside the huddle during the fourth quarter against the Florida Gators at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Oct 2, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (1) walks outside the huddle during the fourth quarter against the Florida Gators at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

As the Kentucky Wildcats prepare to open their season against the Toledo Rockets, predictions are flying in from across the college football world. While many expect the Cats to handle business, a surprising number of national voices are putting Kentucky on upset alert.

Here’s a roundup of what the experts are saying.

How local experts see it

The team over at Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) is largely confident in a Wildcats victory, though the projected scores vary:

  • Taylor Thompson: Cats ride the running game to a 30-24 win.
  • Nick Roush & Drew Franklin: Kentucky in a blowout, 34-17.
  • Adam Luckett: A closer contest, with the Cats winning 27-21.
  • Zack Geoghegan: Kentucky plows through Toledo, 31-17.
  • Jack Pilgrim: Dante Dowdell will be the key in a 28-13 victory.
  • Jacob Polacheck: A final score of 31-24 in favor of Kentucky.

National pundits sound the alarm

While the local consensus favors the Cats, some national accounts are predicting a stunning upset in Lexington. Both Josh Pate and Reece Davis have put the Wildcats on upset alert. With Pate saying the game was a "8.5 out of 10" as far as how likely an upset is to happen

Davis, for his part, said that "Kentucky is on upset alert when Toledo comes calling."

Furthermore, several popular college football social media accounts are picking the Rockets to win outright:

The consensus is clear: most people believe this game will be a close, hard-fought battle. It at least will make those in attendance at Kroger Field to be a little tense if the game stays close for long. What say you BBN? Is this going to be a nail biter, or one you shouldn't worry about?

Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time, he spends time with his family, and watching Premier League soccer. #UpTheAlbion