Kentucky Football: 2017 season preview, predictions
By Shane Lunnen
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
2017 Kentucky Schedule and Predictions
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 1 | Sept. 2 | at Southern Miss | Hattiesburg, MS |
| 2 | Sept. 9 | vs. Eastern Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | at South Carolina | Columbia, SC |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | vs. Florida | Lexington, KY |
| 5 | Sept. 30 | vs. Eastern Michigan | Lexington, KY |
| 6 | Oct. 7 | vs. Missouri | Lexington, KY |
| 7 | Oct. 14 | BYE WEEK | |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | at Mississippi State | Starkville, MS |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | vs. Tennessee | Lexington, KY |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | vs. Ole Miss | Lexington, KY |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | at Vanderbilt | Nashville, TN |
| 12 | Nov. 18 | at Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 13 | Nov. 25 | vs. Louisville | Lexington, KY |
Looking at the schedule, Kentucky has a real chance to get to the eight win mark. The non-conference games are winnable, with of course Louisville being the toughest but hey look what happened last year at Louisville.
The Wildcats avoid Alabama, LSU and Auburn from the SEC West and instead draw Mississippi State and Ole Miss, so that’s a plus. Finally they get Florida and Tennessee at home. If they can win either of those games, it would be huge. It was 2011 the last time the Wildcats beat the Vols. Go back to 1986 for the last time they beat the Gators. It’s even a little advantage to having the bye week fall directly at mid-season, although they might wish they had it before Florida or Tennessee.
Prediction: 7-5 (4-4 SEC)
Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017
As much as I’ve played up the possibility of the Wildcats breaking through to eight or maybe even nine wins, I can’t see it realistically. Sure if they are 3-0 going into the Florida game and upset the Gators, then all bets are off. But the more realistic scenario is seven wins. They will go 3-1 in their non-conference games and pick up conference wins against Missouri, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.
The record will still be good enough for another bowl game. Kentucky has not posted back to back bowl appearances since the 2009 and 2010 seasons. This year if they win their bowl, it will be a little boost heading into the 2018 season.