Auburn vs. Kentucky Prediction, Game Preview

Is this the week Auburn (3-2) really and truly starts to turn things around? Kentucky (4-1) played Florida as tough as anyone has, and it’s still deep in the SEC East title chase. Check out the Auburn vs. Kentucky prediction and game preview.

Auburn vs. Kentucky Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Thursday, Oct. 15
Game Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Commonwealth Stadium. Lexington, KY
Network: ESPN

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Why You Need To Care

Flying a bit under the radar., Kentucky has managed to come up with a nice 4-1 start with SEC wins over South Carolina and Missouri, but the program has been hurt before. Last year the Cats had a strong start, only to fizzle out over the second half of the campaign. With Vandy and Charlotte still on the slate, a six-win season and a bowl are almost assured, but getting by Auburn at home would be a big help before going on the road for three of the final four games. With a solid offense and a defense that hasn’t been gouged, the potential is there to pull it off if the Tigers keep on struggling.

It hasn’t been the total disaster of a season many are making it out to be for Auburn. No, this isn’t the team that’s ripping through the SEC like it was supposed to, but it’s still just 3-2 with plenty of time to come up with a solid record. However, this kicks off a run of three road games in the next four, with the home date coming against Ole Miss, so unless the woeful passing attack and struggling offense can start to move the chains, and unless the lousy run defense can come up with a few more stops, it’s going to be a long next few weeks.

Why Kentucky Will Win

There’s no fear whatsoever of Auburn throwing the ball down the field. The passing attack stunk before, but without D’haquille Williams around, there really aren’t any threats for the solid UK secondary to deal with. Auburn will try, and it’ll have used the time off to prepare to do more to get the offense going, but the Wildcats have had time off, too. This might not be a consistent or a brick wall of a defense, but it’s been effectively stronger than the stats show and did a nice job of slowing down a slew of bad offenses. Auburn has a bad offense.

Why Auburn Will Win

It’s not like Kentucky is moving the ball, either. There’s a passing game, but that’s mainly because it has to. There were moments against South Carolina, and the eight touchdown runs in five weeks are solid, but the offense doesn’t really move. It’s fine on third downs, and it’s not totally miserable, but the Wildcats have come up with a mere 93 first downs on the season – they’re 114th in the nation. Auburn is playing with someone its own size offensively with just 100 first downs of its own.

Player Who Matters

Patrick Towles will be the starting quarterback for Kentucky. Auburn’s starting quarterback will be … Jeremy Johnson. Or Sean White. No, Johnson. Both quarterbacks might get their shot and Gus Malzahn isn’t saying anything, but if this really is the first game of the rest of Auburn’s life, Johnson has to get another real shot. The Tigers have a huge upside, but that only comes if Johnson plays as expected. The other option is for White to step up and shine – the future has to be now, already.

What’s Going To Happen?

This pretty much is what Kentucky is. It’s pretty good, and it’s going to end up going bowling, but the sky’s the limit for Auburn, who’s about to show that it’s a whole bunch better than it’s been over the first five games. It’s not going to be 2013, but it’ll be a stronger performance.