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247Sports Releases SEC Football Win Projections, Not Buying Into Kentucky

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

It is February and the sports world is starting to aim its focus on college basketball, but that doesn’t mean it is too early for some college football projections. Earlier this week, Brad Crawford of 247Sports released his win projections for every team in the SEC.

With Liam Coen back as offensive coordinator, bringing in Devin Leary to pair with some explosive and young talent, the Kentucky Wildcats are hoping to improve on a 7-6 season. Yet Crawford is not buying in, giving Kentucky the fourth-lowest win projection in the conference at 6.5 wins.

Here is their reasoning:

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“Kentucky gets an entire month of football to work in NC State transfer quarterback Devin Leary as the team’s new starter under Liam Coen, who has returned to the Bluegrass to call plays.

The Wildcats should be at least a touchdown favorite in every contest until Florida comes to Lexington to end the first month on Sept. 30. The final five weeks of the season will determine Kentucky’s fate. Those matchups include Tennessee, at Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina and Louisville on the road.”

This projection may seem low based on the fact that the Wildcats have won at least seven games in six of the last seven seasons, with the exception being a 2020 season (5-6) where ten conference games were played. However, they will play one of the toughest schedules in the country next season.

Headlined by assumed losses to Alabama and Georgia, Kentucky will only be a heavy favorite in four games, interestingly their first four games of the season – Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Akron, and Vanderbilt. The most difficult part of evaluating the outlook on the season is the number of 50/50 games on the schedule, mentioned by Crawford, such as Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee among others.

With that said, Mark Stoops and Co have excelled when an underdog and the Wildcats will look to exceed expectations once again.

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Here is a look at what the projections look like for the rest of the SEC.

Georgia: 11.5 wins
Alabama: 10.5 wins
Tennessee: 9 wins
LSU: 9 wins
Texas A&M: 7.5 wins
Auburn Tigers: 7.5 wins
South Carolina: 7.5 wins
Arkansas: 7 wins
Ole Miss: 7 wins
Florida: 6.5 wins
Mississippi State: 6 wins
Missouri: 5.5 wins
Vanderbilt: 4 wins

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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Thousands of Dollars in Theft Reported at Kentucky-Georgia Game

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During the Kentucky-Georgia football game, fans reported multiple vehicle break-ins amounting to thousands of dollars in stolen property.
Chet White | UK Athletics

While Kentucky was battling No. 1 Georgia in Kroger Field on Saturday, multiple fans had their vehicles broken into. Following the game, University of Kentucky police received multiple reports of break-ins.

According to WKYT, five vehicles were broken into during the game. Fans reported that windows were shattered and that purses, electronics, and debit cards were stolen. One of the victims, who made the trip to the game from Pennsylvania, claims that an estimated $7,000 worth of items were stolen from her truck while it was parked in the purple lot.

While UK police say they patrol lots during the game with bike officers, the victims say they did not see security after the game when they noticed shattered glass by their vehicles.

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UK Police Chief had this message for fans. “Lock your valuables up. Put them in an area, a trunk, or something people will not see very easily. Don’t leave them laying out. That’s going to make you an easy target.”

If you plan to attend Kentucky games this season, please be vigilant and store away and valuables to where they cannot be seen.

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Thirteen Players Listed on Kentucky Injury Report, Includes Brock Vandagriff and Maxwell Hairston

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Kentucky Wildcats struggled against South Carolina in a 31-6 loss, and so did quarterback Brock Vandagriff

Starting this season, the SEC implemented a new policy requiring teams to provide availability reports for conference games. The initial report is published on Wednesday and comes with daily updates, with the final report coming 90 minutes before kickoff. Players must listed as: out (0% chance to play), doubtful (25% chance to play), questionable (50% chance to play), or probable (75% chance to play),

Going up against No. 1 Georgia, the Wildcats had 13 players listed on this week’s report and will not be at full strength with several key names featured, starting with the quarterback.

After not being featured in the initial injury report, Vandagriff was listed as “probable” when it was updated on Thursday. No details of the injury have been reported, but after getting hit as much as he did last week against South Carolina, it is no surprise that he is a bit banged up. Listed as “probable”, he is likely to play.

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More concerning though is preseason All-American Maxwell Hairston and OL Gerald Mincey. Both were initially listed as probable, but were downgraded to questionable on Friday, with just a 50% chance to play on Saturday.

Looking at the rest of the report, many of the injures came during the offseason or fall camp. However, guard Jager Burton and running back Jason Patterson were added as “out” this week.

Georgia has four players out, including first-round prospect Mykel Williams.

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Kentucky QB Brock Vandagriff Ready to Take on His Former Team the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs, “Welcoming the Challenge”

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Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff will have the opportunity to face his former team the Georgia Bulldogs, and make a statement.
Grace Smith-UK Athletics | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff is set to face off against his former team on Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs. Competing against not just his former team, but also the No. 1 team in the country in his third career start is a tough task. However, he and the rest of the offense welcome the challenge.

“We’re welcoming the challenge,” Vandargriff said after practice on Wednesday. “At the end of the day, it’s the same game, the same rules, all that kind of stuff.”

Spending three years in Athens before transferring to Kentucky, the familiarity with the Georgia defense may provide some internal comfort for Vandagriff. The Bogart, Georgia native has had extensive practice reps against the stout defense, which has included 17 draft picks over the last three seasons. Similarly, that defensive unit has also defended against Vandagriff in practice.

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During his time as a Bulldog, Vandagriff was roommates with Chaz Chambliss, Cash Jones, and Brock Bowers and built lifetime friendships with them. “We called it the B’s and the C’s: me and Brock vs. Cash and Chaz,” Vandagriff said. Those relationships continue to this day with a group chat.

Vandragriff said he also still talks a lot with former teammate and Heisman candidate Carson Beck, valuing his friendship. When Beck was asked about Vandagriff earlier this week, he said, “I’ll probably give him a text this week.” Beck continued, “He’s a great friend of mine. Maybe not so much Saturday.”

Setting aside those relationships and making a crucial statement on the field will be key for Vandagriff on Saturday as a strong offensive showing can go a long way to reinvigorate the fanbase. You would have to believe that he relishes the opportunity to prove himself on a national level, against his former team.

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