Univ. of Louisiana—Monroe vs. Kentucky
Time: NOON ET
Spread: KY -21
Total: 49
Odds courtesy of Bovada
The Kentucky Wildcats are 4-1 on the season and could be undefeated if not for the triple overtime heartbreaker to the Florida Gators on Sept. 13. Since that time, UK has knocked off Vanderbilt and South Carolina to improve to 2-1 in the SEC. Hosting UL-Monroe is unlikely to do little to slow the Cats, as Kentucky is 21-point favorites in the college odds for this contest.
The Wildcats have been successful offensively and very tough on the defensive end. Kentucky ranks 24th in the nation in points allowed, surrendering just 19.6 per contest. The Cats are also fairly balanced offensively, getting 274 yards from the pass and 193.8 via the rush.
Sophomore Patrick Towles is emerging as a star for the Cats. He’s thrown 63.4 percent for copletion and has 7 TDs to 4 INTs. He’s amassed 1,325 yards while posting a 140.5 QB rating. The Wildcats top six receivers all have 110 yards or more on the season and have accounted for six TDs collectively.
In the backfield, Kentucky has Jojo Kemp and Braylon Heard. Heard has been especially successful with an 8.1 yard per carry average. Kemp leads the team in rushing TDs with four, while Heard has three and Towles has two as well. No. 3 back Mikel Horton has 165 yards on 5.3 yards per carry with two TDs.
UL-Monroe is 3-2, but all three victories were against lowly schools. Wake Forest, Idaho an Troy fell to the Warhawks, while then- No. 10 LSU shutout the Warhawks 31-0 and Arkansas State won comfortable 28-14. Still, the Warhawks have stayed afloat in the Sun Belt with a 2-1 conference record. Facing an SEC opponent like Kentucky may just be too much.
QB Pete Thomas has thrown for 1,159 yards on the season but is averaging just 5.88 yards per completion. He’s thrown five TDs to just 2 INTs, but he hasn’t improved much over his junior season. Last year he did throw nine INTs, but he had a better yard per reception average (6.75) and had a higher completion rating (60.3). He’s seen his sack numbers go down, but is still getting sacked 2.33 times per game.
In Thomas’ two outings with 300 yards or more, the Warhawks won both games, but when he has struggle the Warhawks have a tough time putting points on the board.
