Kentucky Football: Can Wildcats win battle of backups vs. South Carolina?

In what will likely be the most competitive SEC matchup of the weekend, Kentucky football heads to South Carolina. Here’s everything you need to know.

Both of these teams are playing with backup quarterbacks and both are looking for a much-needed win in the SEC. Kentucky is looking to bounce back after losses to Florida and Mississippi State, but South Carolina is an even deeper hole as they sit at 1-3 on the season looking for any kind of spark to get them going.

Things have been rough for both teams and now they face off as they try to get back on the right track.

Here is how you can watch the matchup:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada

Line: South Carolina -3
Over/Under: 53.5

Keys to Victory

For South Carolina, they have to be better defensively. They haven’t been able to stop anyone from throwing the ball and it has caused them to fall into holes they can’t get out of. Sawyer Smith is hurt and that will be a hit for Kentucky, so South Carolina has to take advantage of him not being at 100 percent. If the Gamecocks want to win this game, they have to take control and not let Kentucky get the better of them.

For Kentucky, it comes down to taking care of the ball and making the most of the time that you have with it. The Wildcats are good at keeping things relatively close thanks to their defense, but all eyes will be on Smith to see what he can do with the injured shoulder.

Prediction

I’m going to put all my eggs in the Kentucky bucket and I feel like I may just regret it later. This one will be extremely close and one team will go home with a broken heart for sure. Both teams need this win to be sure that they will be going bowling this year, but it is going to come down to who wants it more.

Final Score: Kentucky 24, South Carolina 21