As a new season begins in the SEC, so does the Will Stein era at Kentucky after it fired longtime coach Mark Stoops and hired the 36-year-old former Oregon offensive coordinator.
He'll begin his tenure as the coach of the Wildcats with a matchup against one of the better teams in the FCS as the Youngstown State Penguins roll into town. The Penguins are ranked No. 9 in the FCS top 25 and beat Mercyhurst in a 43-10 blowout at home in their Week 0 opener.
If you are looking for some betting advice for the matchup, we've got you covered. Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of FanDuel.
Kentucky vs. Youngstown State game odds
All college football odds via FanDuel
- Spread: UK -23.5 (-106), YSU +23.5 (-114)
- Money Line: UK -3000, YSU +1200
- Over-Under: Over 62.5 (-108), Under 62.5 (-112)
Kentucky vs. Youngstown State prediction, pick:
In addition to adding one of the best young offensive minds in the sport as its head coach, Kentucky also added some
intriguing players on offense through the portal in quarterback Kenny Minchey, running back CJ Baxter, receiver Nic Anderson and offensive tackle Lance Heard.
The defense is also heavily portaled with just a few major returning contributors like defensive lineman Tavion Gadson and safety Ty Bryant. Youngstown State could test that defense a bit with quarterback Beau Brungard, who threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 119 yards and two scores in the opener.
This is a less-than-ideal FCS opponent to begin the season with, and the relatively tight line reflects that. Still, I'm fairly bullish on this Kentucky operation this year. It won't struggle much in this game.
Prediction: Kentucky 41, Youngstown State 14
Best Bet: UK -23.5, Under 62.5
Kentucky vs. Youngstown State channel, start time, streaming:
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Stream: SEC Network+
Watch Kentucky vs. Youngstown State on ESPN+
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Kentucky vs. Youngstown State: Week 1 Betting Odds, Prediction
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