1. Marcus Lattimore will rush for at least 150 yards and one touchdown: In three seasons, Lattimore has rushed for 100 yards or more against every SEC East school at least once, except for Missouri, of course. In four games, the fewest rushing yards Kentucky has allowed in a single game this season is 163 yards to Western Kentucky.
2. Connor Shaw will break the SEC record for consecutive completions: Shaw completed his final 20 passes against Missouri last Saturday, leaving him four completion short of the SEC record. If Kentucky stacks the line in an effort to stop Lattimore, USC could throw to loosen the Wildcats up and force a couple of defenders out of the box.
3. USC will win the turnover battle by a margin of at least plus-two: One of Shaw’s strengths as a quarterback is taking care of the football. After four games, USC is plus-one (eight takeaways, seven giveaways) in turnover margin, while Kentucky is minus-five (four takeaways, nine giveaways). Between USC’s aggressive, talented defense and a quarterback who doesn’t make many mistakes, the Gamecocks should win the all-important, and often decisive, turnover battle.
4. Ace Sanders will have at least one punt return of longer than 20 yards: Sanders has done it all this season. He is third on the team with eight receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns, has completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to D.L. Moore and returned a dozen punts for a 16.3 yard average. Unquestionably, Sanders is entering the prime of his career, and his play on the field reflects it. Kentucky has limited opponents to a 2.0 yard average on 13 punt returns this season. But I’m sure they haven’t faced a returner as dynamic as Sanders.
5. Kentucky fans will start screaming at the Wildcat players in the third quarter to make a jump shot: With the start of basketball practice two weeks away, Kentucky fans should be forgiven for getting their sports mixed up. Hoops is king in the Bluegrass State. And another loss on the gridiron to the Gamecocks will drop the Wildcats to 1-4 with games upcoming against Mississippi State, Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee. Here’s the safest bet you can make this week - the attention of Kentucky fans will quickly turn to basketball when Midnight Madness arrives on Oct. 12.
2. Connor Shaw will break the SEC record for consecutive completions: Shaw completed his final 20 passes against Missouri last Saturday, leaving him four completion short of the SEC record. If Kentucky stacks the line in an effort to stop Lattimore, USC could throw to loosen the Wildcats up and force a couple of defenders out of the box.
3. USC will win the turnover battle by a margin of at least plus-two: One of Shaw’s strengths as a quarterback is taking care of the football. After four games, USC is plus-one (eight takeaways, seven giveaways) in turnover margin, while Kentucky is minus-five (four takeaways, nine giveaways). Between USC’s aggressive, talented defense and a quarterback who doesn’t make many mistakes, the Gamecocks should win the all-important, and often decisive, turnover battle.
4. Ace Sanders will have at least one punt return of longer than 20 yards: Sanders has done it all this season. He is third on the team with eight receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns, has completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to D.L. Moore and returned a dozen punts for a 16.3 yard average. Unquestionably, Sanders is entering the prime of his career, and his play on the field reflects it. Kentucky has limited opponents to a 2.0 yard average on 13 punt returns this season. But I’m sure they haven’t faced a returner as dynamic as Sanders.
5. Kentucky fans will start screaming at the Wildcat players in the third quarter to make a jump shot: With the start of basketball practice two weeks away, Kentucky fans should be forgiven for getting their sports mixed up. Hoops is king in the Bluegrass State. And another loss on the gridiron to the Gamecocks will drop the Wildcats to 1-4 with games upcoming against Mississippi State, Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee. Here’s the safest bet you can make this week - the attention of Kentucky fans will quickly turn to basketball when Midnight Madness arrives on Oct. 12.
