November kicks up the stakes in college football, especially with the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings this past Tuesday.
And one of Saturday's key games features unlikely SEC contender Kentucky (No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll) visiting Neyland Stadium to face No. 16 Tennessee.
Kentucky landed at No. 6 in the first CFP rankings, while the Vols landed at No. 13, controversially eight spots lower than Alabama — a team it beat by 16 points.
Kentucky controls its path to a place it has never been: the SEC championship game. The Wildcats are tied with Georgia atop the conference
at 5-1, and winning their final three SEC games would send them to Atlanta. But that run starts with a major obstacle Saturday at Tennessee, where Kentucky has won just 11 times and lost five straight in the rivalry. Florida and Missouri follow, while Georgia faces its own three-game test.
First-year Wildcats coach Will Stein isn’t hiding from the stakes, but he knows Kentucky’s historic opportunity disappears quickly if the Wildcats look ahead: “If you don't handle your business this week? Then nothing really matters.”
Watch Vols vs Wildcats live on Fubo
Tennessee likely needs a 10-2 record to make the playoff. There’s also a chance that 9-3 could be good enough, but that possibility also would require a win over Kentucky.
So who wins on Saturday? Here's what you need to know for one of Week 10's marquee games, including predictions from USA TODAY Sports reporters and beat writers from the Knoxville News Sentinel and Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Tennessee vs Kentucky football predictions: Experts pick who wins
USA TODAY Sports staff picks:
- John Brice: Tennessee
- Matt Hayes: Tennessee
- Jordan Mendoza: Tennessee
- Paul Myerberg: Tennessee
- Erick Smith: Tennessee
- Eddie Timanus: Kentucky
- Blake Toppmeyer: Tennessee
- Craig Meyer: Kentucky 24, Tennessee 21
- Austin Curtright: Tennessee 23, Kentucky 20
- Jordan Mendoza: Tennessee 26, Kentucky 24
- Adam Bittner: Kentucky 27, Tennessee 17
- Kentucky 28, Tennessee 20: Will Stein has Kentucky on the brink of a CFP appearance in just his first season. The Wildcats' path to the SEC doesn't take a step back here as Kenny Minchey and Co. walk into Rocky Top and come out with a top-20 win. — John Leuzzi, USA TODAY
- Tennessee 24, Kentucky 20: The Vols still have to find something in their passing game, which is statistically the worst in the SEC. Even if that doesn't come to fruition, though, Tennessee's rushing attack and defense have been good enough to beat the toughest teams on its schedule. Perhaps the open week helped Tennessee clean up some of last game's mistakes before playing a team that doesn't make many. Playing at home could push it over the top. — Emmett Siegel, Knoxville News Sentinel
- Tennessee 20, Kentucky 17: The Cats are just 11-45-6 against the Vols in Knoxville. Tennessee is desperate: It can't afford another loss if it wants to make the College Football Playoff. The hosts eke out a narrow victory to snap UK's six-game win streak. — Ryan Black, Louisville Courier Journal
Kentucky-Tennessee football spread, betting odds
(via BetMGM)
- Favorite: Tennessee by 6.5 points
- Over/under: 50.5 total points
- Moneyline: Tennessee -235; Kentucky +195
Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee Vols football: CFP rankings
Kentucky is ranked No. 6 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, while Tennessee landed at No. 13 in the CFP reveal.
Who will start at QB for Tennessee vs Kentucky: George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon?
Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel still won’t publicly name George MacIntyre his starting quarterback. His players seem to have done it for him. Teammates say the sophomore has “taken control of the offense” and emerged as its leader since replacing Faizon Brandon against Auburn. With the Vols 3-1 in MacIntyre’s starts and still chasing a College Football Playoff berth, the quarterback question appears increasingly settled as Tennessee prepares for a top-20 showdown with Kentucky.
Can Jim Knowles slow Will Stein's Kentucky offense?
Will Stein knows exactly how dangerous Jim Knowles can be. Kentucky’s coach has matched wits with Tennessee’s defensive coordinator three times over the past two seasons, producing dramatic games, tactical counterpunches and lessons that could shape their Nov. 7 reunion. Knowles has never forced a turnover against a Stein offense, but he dominated their biggest matchup. Now their chess match comes to the SEC, where No. 7 Kentucky and No. 16 Tennessee meet at Neyland Stadium with major College Football Playoff stakes.
Click here to read more about their history vs. each other.
Tennessee-Kentucky football injury report
TENNESSEE
- CB Jadais Richard (out for season, upper-body)
- OL Wendell Moe (out for season, lower leg)
- DB Dylan Lewis (out for season, foot)
- S Edrees Farooq (out for season, knee)
- TE Ethan Davis (out for season, knee)
- KR/WR Joakim Dodson (out for season, leg)
- LB Jaedon Harmon (out for season, knee)
KENTUCKY
- DB Isaiah McMillian (questionable)
- OLB Sam Greene (probable)
- ILB Antwan Smith (out)
- ILB Justyn Hartley (out)
- DB Jaden Smith (out)
- DB Grant Grayton (out)
What channel is Tennessee-Kentucky football game on? How to watch, time, TV announcers
- Time: 6:15 p.m., Saturday
- TV: ESPN
- Announcers: Tom Hart (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Quint Kessinich (sideline)
Tennessee Vols football schedule
- Sept. 5: vs. Furman; W, 56-9
- Sept. 12: at Georgia Tech; W, 45-24
- Sept. 19: vs. Kennesaw State; W, 42-9
- Sept. 26: vs. Texas; L, 20-17
- Oct. 3: vs. Auburn; W, 24-14
- Oct. 10: at Arkansas; W, 24-17
- Oct. 17: vs. Alabama; W, 26-10
- Oct. 24: at South Carolina; L, 27-24
- Nov. 7: vs. Kentucky, 6:15 p.m. (ESPN)
- Nov. 14: at Texas A&M
- Nov. 21: vs. LSU
- Nov. 28: at Vanderbilt
Kentucky Wildcats football schedule
- Sept. 5: vs. Youngstown State; W, 45-13
- Sept. 12: vs. Alabama; L, 45-17
- Sept. 19: at Texas A&M; W, 31-21
- Sept. 26: vs. South Alabama; W, 45-21
- Oct. 3: at South Carolina; W, 35-34, OT
- Oct. 10: vs. LSU; W, 35-34, OT
- Oct. 17: at Oklahoma; W, 21-13
- Oct. 24: vs. Vanderbilt; W, 34-17
- Nov. 7: at Tennessee, 6:15 p.m. (ESPN)
- Nov. 14: vs. Florida, TBD (ESPN)
- Nov. 21: at Missouri
- Nov. 28: vs. Louisville
USA TODAY Network reporters Adam Sparks (Knoxville News Sentinel) and Ryan Black (Louisville Courier Journal) contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee vs Kentucky predictions: Can Vols derail Wildcats’ dream season?
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