Kentucky is 7-1 and ranked No. 8, and the Wildcats got there by refusing to hand anybody a gift. Five turnovers all season, none in four straight games, about four penalties a game and a plus-13 turnover margin. Tennessee, meanwhile, has been flagged 61 times for 497 yards.
I still can’t make the AP poll add up. Kentucky lost to Alabama at home by four touchdowns. We beat that same Alabama team 26-10. Kentucky is No. 8, Bama is No. 9 and the Vols are No. 16, with our two losses coming to ranked Texas and South Carolina by a field goal apiece.
The way you beat a careful team is to make it play from behind. Kentucky’s defense lets you move the ball, so feed DeSean Bishop, turn a pass rush with 35 sacks loose on Kenny Minchey and let Neyland handle the rest at 6:15 Eastern on ESPN.
My pick is Tennessee -6.5, and it comes with the Kentucky Hat Guarantee: if the Vols don’t cover, my first video after the game is me in a Kentucky hat. I’m calling it Vols 30, Kentucky 20.
2026 record: College picks 12-10-1 (including the Vols) · Vols against the spread 3-2 · NFL picks 3-10
Read the full column at Five and a Fade: https://fiveandafade.com/2026/11/02/kentucky-doesnt-beat-itself-somebody-has-to/
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