Kentucky Football: 3 keys to victory vs. South Carolina in Week 5

South Carolina and Kentucky football are both coming off of back-to-back losses and are desperately looking for a win. Here’s what the Wildcats must do.

Kentucky and South Carolina are in similar situations heading into Week 5, with the exception of their records as the Wildcats are 2-2 and the Gamecocks are 1-3. Both teams are without their starting quarterback due to injury and both teams are coming off of two straight SEC losses in back to back weeks.

South Carolina has one of the toughest schedules in all of college football and this could be a must-win for them if they want to reach a bowl game at the end of the year.

With the game being in Columbia, the Gamecocks are three-point favorites. This will be an evenly-matched game with both teams having a chance to win late in the fourth quarter.

Kentucky will aim to go on the road and get a victory to improve to 3-2. Let’s look at three things the Wildcats must do to win.

3. Get the ball to Lynn Bowden Jr.

Junior Lynn Bowden Jr. is the team’s leading receiver in yards and catches. Through four games so far this season, Bowden Jr. has put up 27 catches for 330 yards and a receiving touchdown. He’s Kentucky’s go-to receiver and any time they need a big play to happen, the quarterback looks for him.

Bowden Jr. has had at least six catches in each contest and is coming off the best game of the season this past weekend in a loss to Mississippi State. Even though Kentucky lost to the Bulldogs 28-13, Bowden Jr. had seven catches for 129 yards and made several big-time plays, including a big fourth-down conversion to keep Kentucky in the game.

Kentucky will need to find creative ways to get him the ball and give him a chance to make some big plays against South Carolina’s secondary.

The Gamecocks will be tuned in on him, but he should still get his touches and if he finds the endzone a time or two, look for Kentucky to get the victory.