LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- If you're about to begin a stretch of eight consecutive games against Southeastern Conference opponents, Vanderbilt is the SEC team you want to play, even on the road.
The Commodores are ranked 63 spots below the next-lowest team in the SEC in Jeff Sagarin's computer power formula.
Vandy ranks last in the SEC in scoring defense and running defense, and 12th in passing defense and total defense.
The Commodores have drawn fewer than 23,000 fans for their first two home games.
Vandy has lost 30 of 33 SEC games over the last four seasons.
Kentucky cannot become the first SEC team to lose to Vandy twice over that period.
The Time: Saturday, Noon, Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
How to Watch/Listen: TV — SEC Network Taylor Zarzour, play by play; Matt Stinchcomb, analyst; Alyssa Lang, sidelines; RADIO — UK Sports Network Tom Leach, play by play; Jeff Piecoro, analyst; Dick Gabriel, sidelines.
The Line: Point spread — Kentucky favored by 13.5 points; Over/under total points — 50.5.
The Last Time: The Commodores ended a six-game losing streak by upsetting the Wildcats, 24-21, last November at Kroger Field in Lexington.
The Series: UK leads 48-43-4, although Vandy has a winning record (27-22-2) in Nashville.
The Records: The Wildcats are 3-0, with victories over Ball State, Eastern Kentucky and Akron; Vandy split its first four games, defeating Hawaii and Alabama A&M before losing consecutive road games to Wake Forest and UNLV.
Player to Watch UK: Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary has thrown for seven touchdowns and 614 yards in the last two games and ranks fourth in the SEC in passing yards per game. But Leary has also thrown at least one interception in every game against less than SEC competition.
Player to Watch Vandy: Quarterback A.J. Swann did not play in Vandy's upset victory in Lexington, but Swann has thrown 11 touchdown passes in the first four games this season. He has also thrown for more than 250 yards three times.
Sideline Storylines:
- Injuries are a major issue for Vandy. Defensive tackle Christian James is out, and tackle Junior Uzebu is questionable. Vandy coach Clark Lea also listed four other starters as questionable, including both safeties.
- Vandy receiver Will Sheppard has six touchdown receptions, which is tied for the most among all FBS players.
- Lea, a former defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, is one of nine FBS coaches leading the program at his alma mater. Lea played fullback for the Commodores from 2002-04.
- London Humphreys, a Vandy freshman, has delivered back-to-back.
- Kentucky moved to No. 33 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll, earning 10 points from three of 63 poll voters. With seven games matching unbeatens this week, the Wildcats are positioned to advance in the ratings.
- UK halfback Ray Davis, a transfer from Vanderbilt, ranks 41st nationally and fifth in the SEC in rushing yards per game with 78.7. Davis had 129 yards and a touchdown in Vandy's upset win last season.
- The Wildcats have six Tennessee natives on their roster, led by sophomore receiver Barion Brown.
- Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace leads the SEC and ranks seventh in the nation with 3.5 sacks.
- Vanderbilt ranks 83rd in the nation and last in the SEC in attendance, attracting an average 21,721 fans for its two home games. Vandy averaged 29,193 per game last season.
The Quote: Vandy coach Clark Lea on the challenge of facing his former running back Ray Davis on Saturday:
"He's got good vision, good feet. He's got a knack for finding space. He's got a knack for knowing when to cut back and get against the grain and break the long ones. He's also a really good receiver in the pass game, but we saw that when he was here. I see not only are they using him as a check-down option, but they are also designing catches for him in the offense, which I think is really smart."
The Pick: Kentucky 27, Vanderbilt 14.
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