| FTBL Point spread released for Alabama's first trip to Kentucky in 10 years

[rick4bama]

Point spread released for Alabama's first trip to Kentucky in 10 years

Alabama opened Sunday as a 11-point favorite over Kentucky on Caesars Sportsbook when the Tide makes its first trip this Saturday to Lexington since 2013.

The game will kick off at 12 p.m. ET locally in Kroger Field. The 61,000-seat venue opened in 1973 is the SEC's third-smallest football stadium ahead of only Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium (28,500) and Mississippi State's Davis Wade Stadium (60,311).

It will mark Alabama's furthest trip north to an outdoor stadium after Halloween since the Tide played at Notre Dame in 1987. Forecast temperature at kickoff Saturday is about 50 degrees. The game will air on ESPN.


Alabama (8-1, 6-0 in SEC) would clinch the SEC West with a win. It would be Alabama's 15th and final time winning the division over its 32 seasons of existence (1992-2023). The SEC will eliminate divisions beginning in 2024.

Even with a loss to Kentucky -- which would effectively knock Alabama out of the College Football Playoff race -- the Tide would still clinch the SEC West if Ole Miss loses Saturday night to Georgia.


Kentucky began the season 5-0 and earned a No. 20 ranking before losing three consecutive games to Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee. The Wildcats beat Mississippi State, 24-3, on Saturday.

Alabama last played Kentucky in Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2020, winning 63-3. That game was added to the Tide's schedule to fill out its 10-game, conference-only schedule necessitated by COVID. The last normally-scheduled meeting between the two schools came in 2016 in Tuscaloosa, a 34-6 win by Alabama.


The last time Alabama played in Lexington was 10 years ago, when Alabama's AJ McCarron-led offense piled up 668 yards in a 48-7 win.

Alabama has won seven consecutive games over Kentucky, with the Wildcats' last win coming in Lexington in 1997.

 

[bamaledge]

If we play like we can, we cover that easily.

 

[MunchyOs]

Oh that's easy money. We are gonna curb stomp the basketball school

 

[Scrape&Search1032]

I really really really really wish it wasn't a noon game.

 

[UAgrad93]

Not crazy about the early kick, but Saban will have the team ready.

 

[mando]

Oh that's easy money. We are gonna curb stomp the basketball school

You are making me nervous saying good things about Bama .

 

[MunchyOs]

You are making me nervous saying good things about Bama .

After Saturday night, I forgot for a minute what a Jekyll and Hyde team this is. I say easy money now, but with how this season has gone, they are liable to go to Lexington and play like they did against South Florida. They shouldn't go up there and play sloppy. But they very well could LOL

 

[alabama mike]

I made the 2 hour drive southwest to Lexington the last time Bama came to town. I just may have to again this weekend. If any of you are coming up 75 from Knoxville, there is a new Buccee's open just south of Richmond, KY., about 25 minutes from Lexington. If you are coming up 65 from Nashville, Elizabethtown, exit 94, is about the last stop to get something to eat before Lexington. There is a Cracker Barrel and Chili's at mile marker 25 on the Blue Grass Parkway.

 

[TerryP]

there is a new Buccee's open just south of Richmond, KY., about 25 minutes from Lexington

IF that's the case, I'm staying at home.

 

[alabama mike]

IF that's the case, I'm staying at home.

Mrs. Bama and I passed it a week ago Saturday going to pick up the GRANDdaughter. I do not understand the fascination.

 

[MunchyOs]

I sure hope this doesn't go like the 1988 Bama-Kentucky game. My ticker can't take that LOL

 

[rick4bama]

I sure hope this doesn't go like the 1988 Bama-Kentucky game. My ticker can't take that LOL

That's the game that Bama was getting beat until a QB came in from Lagrange, GA. Bama scores two TDs in the 4th to win the game.

 

[MunchyOs]

That's the game that Bama was getting beat until a QB came in from Lagrange, GA. Bama scores two TDs in the 4th to win the game.

That team had SO much potential. Jelks and Humphrey going down in the second game of the year really hurt. If that hadn't happened, the sky would have been the limit that year. Crazy as it sounds, Curry could have had a national championship in his second year at Bama.

 

[alabama mike]

I sure hope this doesn't go like the 1988 Bama-Kentucky game. My ticker can't take that LOL

I was living in southern, Middle Tennessee at the time. If I am not mistaken we were down 14-0 or 17-0 at halftime. Vince Sutton, I believe was the QB and threw a TD late in the game to seal the victory. The one thing I do know for sure is that I jumped up off the couch with my hands raised in the air and tore a ceiling fan all to crap.

 

[MunchyOs]

I was living in southern, Middle Tennessee at the time. If I am not mistaken we were down 14-0 or 17-0 at halftime. Vince Sutton, I believe was the QB and threw a TD late in the game to seal the victory. The one thing I do know for sure is that I jumped up off the couch with my hands raised in the air and tore a ceiling fan all to crap.

Yep!! Hard to believe it was 35 years ago. I was a freshman in high school. I was watching the game at a friend's house and I jumped up and crash landed on his little sister's toy xylophone. Fortunately, I was young and thin back then, because if I had weighed anywhere close to what I weigh now, that poor xylophone would not have survived

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Had a great trip yo game in lexington.
10 years. Cant believe it's been that long

 

[Justneedme81]

After Saturday night, I forgot for a minute what a Jekyll and Hyde team this is. I say easy money now, but with how this season has gone, they are liable to go to Lexington and play like they did against South Florida. They shouldn't go up there and play sloppy. But they very well could LOL

I really don't think it'll be an issue this Saturday.

 

[MunchyOs]

I really don't think it'll be an issue this Saturday.

It feels like they have turned a big corner now. I think it will be pretty much in the bag by halftime. UK will put up a fight for a bit, but will get worn down pretty quick

 

[Justneedme81]

Why I'm not worried just yet about Kentucky:

Kentucky has real good defense and can play tough ball and can force turnovers.

However here's few things to remember:
First 5 games: Ball State, E. Kentucky, Akron, Vanderbilt and Florida.
Not exactly a vote of confidence in those team to beat Kentucky.


-Georgia ran all over them with their suffocating defense. 51-13. Ran them out of town.
-Next game, they lost to Missouri 38-21. The same team that lost to Georgia 30-21.

-Tennessee 33-27. Close game. Not exactly great offense on both side.

Leary has regressed in last few games with his play.. but he's tough. He'll keep fighting.

Points/G: 30.0 (55th of 133)
Opp Pts/G: 22.3 (43rd of 133)

Third down conversion rate for offense is 38.7
Defense is allowing 42 percent on 3rd down.

Oppoenents are scoring 87.5 percent in redzone on them.

Not too concern. We should be able to do some damages Saturday.

 

[bamaledge]

Had a great trip yo game in lexington.
10 years. Cant believe it's been that long

I can’t either. That year, my son and I went to that game because it was closer than ttown and it’s what we could afford. It was a great day!