South Carolina was sluggish, but it got by North Carolina in an ugly
start to the season. Kentucky was tested just as much, but it had to face
Louisiana-Lafayette to get to 1-0. Chalk both games up to Week One, but now it’s
on with the SEC campaign kicking in. South Carolina was dropped by UK last year
in a 45-38 game, but it’s 13-2 in the series over the last 15 years.  

Below we dive into the South Carolina vs. Kentucky prediction with full game preview

South Carolina vs. Kentucky Prediction & Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 12
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Network: SEC Network

Follow, Contact @PeteFiutak

Why You Need To Care

Kentucky couldn’t close out well last season, and now it needs to come out roaring after its rocky first week and with Florida and Missouri up next. Fortunately, the next four games – and five of the next six – are at home, so if they could somehow come up with the big road win in the only game away from home until late October, all of a sudden the Wildcats will be a national story. To do that, they’ll have to come up with a far better overall effort than they did against the Ragin’ Cajuns. 

South Carolina didn’t come up with the performance to make anyone think this is an SEC champion in the near future, but it was able to get out with the win and move on. However, going forward, the passing game has to be stronger and the offense as a whole has to be far more effective with a road trip to Georgia up next followed up in SEC play by dates at Missouri and against LSU.

Why South Carolina Will Win

So the South Carolina passing game isn’t stellar – the rushing attack
should be able to roll. Kentucky wasn’t even close to holding up against the
Louisiana-Lafayette running game, allowing 247 yards and big gash after big
gash. The Gamecocks were able to barrel their way to a 254-yard day with
several different parts able to produce, and against the squishy-soft UK
defensive front, coming up with five yards per crack shouldn’t be a problem.   

Why Kentucky Will Win

North Carolina had one of the worst defenses in America last season, and
while there were improvements, including the addition of defensive coordinator
Gene Chizik, it certainly wasn’t supposed to be that good. The
UK secondary had an awful first week, but as the UNC game showed, South
Carolina might not be able to take advantage. While the Tar Heel secondary did
a nice job, South Carolina killed itself with missed play after missed play.
Connor Mitch couldn’t hit his throws, connecting on just 9-of-22 passes for 122
yards with a score. It might be another rocky afternoon for the Gamecock O. 

Player Who Matters

Okay, Connor Mitch, it’s time to be better. After winning a long and
drawn out battle, Mitch came out and struggled. He was able to fight his way to
44 rushing yards, and he didn’t have any real help from his receivers, but to
move forward, South Carolina needs more from its quarterback play. This has to
be the game when things start to happen. On the other side, Kentucky’s Patrick
Towles also came off a weird win, hitting fewer than half of his throws, but
for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Last year he was fantastic against USC,
hitting 20-of-29 passes for 208 yards and a score in the victory. If he isn’t
as sharp this time around, Kentucky doesn’t have a chance. <

What’s Going To Happen?

South Carolina will play better. There’s a thought that Kentucky is
about to turn a corner and become a factor in the East, but it has to be far
stronger than it showed against Louisiana-Lafayette, and that won’t happen. The
Gamecock defense will get the job done to overcome another mediocre day from the
offense.

South Carolina vs. Kentucky Score Prediction

It’s that time, folks. The South Carolina vs. Kentucky prediction is …

Final Score: South Carolina 34, Kentucky 17

MORE: College Football Bowl Projections, Week 1