Vanderbilt football will face Kentucky on the road in a battle of two teams on opposite trajectories from last season.
The No. 12 Wildcats (6-1, 4-1 SEC) have seen a reversal of fortunes under new coach Will Stein. Stein has Kentucky in College Football Playoff contention after wins over LSU and Oklahoma, while Vanderbilt (3-4, 0-4) has slipped back into the conference basement and is the only SEC team still winless in conference play.
The two teams will face off Oct. 24 (6:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network) at Kroger Field. The matchup will feature two quarterbacks from the Nashville area in Kentucky's Kenny Minchey and Vanderbilt freshman Jared Curtis.
Here is our score prediction:
Vanderbilt vs Kentucky prediction
Kentucky has been one of the biggest surprises in the country this season.
But are the Wildcats really as good as their record? Kentucky won two straight overtime games against South Carolina and LSU and rank much lower by advanced metrics − 45th in ESPN's SP+ and 26th in FPI.
Vanderbilt needs to stop beating itself through turnovers and penalties and will likely need to force a few turnovers of its own, something the Commodores haven't done much of in SEC play.
Vanderbilt vs Kentucky scouting report
Why Vanderbilt has an advantage: Chaos has reigned supreme in college football. If Auburn could go on the road and beat No. 1 Georgia, then Vanderbilt can beat Kentucky. The Commodores have done well in Lexington the past few years, winning games in 2022 and 2024.
Why Kentucky has an advantage: Kentucky has a great young coach, a strong offensive line and a good quarterback in Minchey. The Wildcats are much less prone to beating themselves than the Commodores are.
Vanderbilt vs Kentucky injury updates
Vanderbilt
Out
QB Blaze Berlowitz
CB Jaylin Lackey
Edge Brian Allen Jr.
LB Jamison Curtis
OL Gunner Givens
DL Aaron Bryant
WR Kahden Smith
DL Nikhil Jefferson
Doubtful
LB Josiah Broxton
Questionable
S Dontae Carter
Probable
CB Cayden Daniels
OL Mitchell Smith
DL Hayden Bray
S Davin Chandler
Kentucky
Out
LB Antwan Smith
DB Jaden Smith
DB Grant Gayton
Doubtful
LB Sam Greene
LS Cole Marszalek
Questionable
WR Nick Anderson
DE Tyler Thomas
Probable
RB CJ Baxter
LB Tavion Wallace
DL Kalen Edwards
Vanderbilt vs Kentucky score prediction
Kentucky 24, Vanderbilt 21
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football vs Kentucky score prediction for Week 8 game
