Kentucky vs. Florida – Game Preview – September 10, 2022 – ESPN

No. 20 Kentucky (1-0) at No. 12 Florida (1-0), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Line: Florida by 5 1/2, based on .

Collection file: Florida leads 53-19, though the groups have break up the final 4 conferences.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Florida vaulted to No. 12 within the AP High 25 ballot following a 29-26 victory over seventh-ranked Utah within the Swamp. Now the Gators will attempt to show it wasn’t a fluke once they open Southeastern Convention play in opposition to Kentucky, which has made the collection aggressive lately after many years of lopsided outcomes.

KEY MATCHUP

Kentucky’s offensive line versus Florida’s defensive entrance. The Wildcats allowed 4 sacks at residence final week in opposition to Miami (Ohio) and can now need to take care of crowd noise from the 90,000-plus anticipated readily available within the sold-out Swamp. The Gators did not sack Utah QB Cam Rising however managed regular strain up the center.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kentucky: QB Will Levis had a stable opener. He accomplished 21 of 32 passes for 303 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception in a 37-13 victory. He additionally confirmed a direct rapport with WR Tayvion Robinson, a Virginia Tech switch who had six receptions for 136 yards in his Wildcats debut.

Florida: QB Anthony Richardson was nearly as good as marketed in his second profession begin. He ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns, together with the go-ahead rating within the closing minutes, and accomplished 17 of 24 passes for 168 yards. His finest play was a 2-point conversion during which he pump-faked one defender and spun round one other earlier than throwing a strike behind the top zone.

FACTS & FIGURES

Florida is 20-1 in opposition to Kentucky in Gainesville since 1981. The lone loss got here in 2018, when the Cats ended a 31-game skid within the collection. … Kentucky is anticipated to be with out Chris Rodriguez, the workforce’s main rusher final season, for a second straight sport. LB Jordan Wright additionally could possibly be sidelined once more. … Florida’s Billy Napier can develop into the second coach in class historical past to open the season with consecutive wins in opposition to ranked groups. The opposite to perform the feat was Charley Pell, whose Gators knocked off No. 15 Miami and Tenth-ranked Southern California to start out the 1982 season.

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