Kentucky

South Carolina vs Kentucky Score Predictions

Published

2 years ago

September 6, 2024

South Carolina vs Kentucky Score Predictions

Score predictions for the week two matchup between South Carolina and Kentucky

The South Carolina Gamecocks managed to squeak out a win against Old Dominion in their week one game by a final score of 23-19. At one point, the game was paused due to a delay, but the Gamecocks had some offensive struggles that kept the Monarchs in the football game. The defense however forced four turnovers which helped seal the victory to get a necessary game-one win. Now they travel to Kentucky for their first conference game of the season.

With that being said, here is how the staff at South Carolina Gamecocks on SI sees the game playing out:

South Carolina vs Kentucky Predictions:

Joseph Griffin: Kentucky 24, South Carolina 17
This is a very winnable game for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks, however, based off of simply what we know and have seen, the offense has a lot of growing to do in just the one week of playing in not only their first road game and SEC matchup, but it’s Sellers as well. Kentucky doesn’t severely outmatch Carolina on either side of the ball, but the lean right now has to go to the home team. If Sellers can hit on the throws he missed last week and Loggains can get the passing game going, Carolina can have a chance to win in the 4th.

Alex Joyce: Kentucky 24, South Carolina 16
This game should come down to a defensive battle in what should be a low scoring affair. While both offenses have fresh faces at the QB spot, South Carolina has more questions than Kentucky. Can Sellers in his first ever road start calm the nerves he showed in game one? Can the WR room gel? Can the offensive line create holes in the run game and limit Kentucky’s star Deone Walker from making a huge impact? For the Wildcats, I like the weapons on offense in Barion Brown and Dane Key. Defensively Kentucky has a veteran defense that has playmakers at each level. If this game were played in October or November, my pick would likely be different, but as of now I believe Kentucky is the more complete football team. It should be a tight game into the second half, but Kentucky does enough to pull this out at home.

Jonathan Williams: Kentucky 30, South Carolina 17
This is going to be a defensive battle between this two teams. Kentucky’s defense is coming off of an impressive game against Southern Miss and the Gamecocks forced four turnovers against Old Dominion last week. With both Brock Vandagriff and LaNorris Sellers making their first starts in an SEC football game, I am expecting some turnovers on both sides. I think this game is going to boil down to which offense can create the most explosive plays and that’s where the Wildcats hold the edge in this ball game. Gamecocks lose a tough conference road game in week two.

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Kentucky

Our top 5 Kentucky Derby contenders as Run for the Roses 2026 nears

Published

2 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Our top 5 Kentucky Derby contenders as Run for the Roses 2026 nears

Arkansas Derby winner Renegade tops our list of the leading contenders for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.
Further Ado, trained by Brad Cox, joins the top five after a commanding victory in Saturday’s Blue Grass at Keeneland.

After the final weekend of major prep races, we have a projected field for the 152^nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Further Ado (Blue Grass), So Happy (Santa Anita Derby) and Albus (Wood Memorial) clinched their spots in the Kentucky Derby with victories on Saturday.

The top 20 horses on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard are eligible to run, though there usually are injuries and defections in the weeks leading up to the race.

Buy tickets for Kentucky Derby 152 here

Saturday’s Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland will offer 20 qualifying points to the winner, though that’s not expected to be enough for any of the competitors to jump into the Kentucky Derby field.

With four weeks to go until the Kentucky Derby, here’s our ranking of the top five contenders:

Owners: Robert and Lawana Low; Repole Stable (Mike Repole).

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Sire: Into Mischief.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 125 (No. 3)

Career earnings: $1,031,500.

Last race: Won Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Wathnan Racing (Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani).

Trainer: Brad Cox.

Jockey: Flavien Prat.

Sire: Into Mischief.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 150 (No. 1).

Career earnings: $1,017,339.

Last race: Won Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owners: OGMA Investments LLC (Gustavo Delgado); JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo); High Step Racing LLC (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira, Todd Perry).

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado.

Jockey: Javier Castellano.

Sire: Essential Quality.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 106 (No. 6).

Career earnings: $442,280.

Last race: Second in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm (Eric Gustavson).

Trainer: Brad Cox.

Jockey: TBA.

Sire: Gun Runner.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 135 (No. 2).

Career earnings: $1,146,328.

Last race: Won Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 4 at Keeneland.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Danox Co. Ltd.

Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe.

Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura.

Sire: Maxfield.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: Qualified via Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Career earnings: $222,762.

Last race: Won Fukuryu Stakes on March 28 at Nakayama Racecourse.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

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Kentucky

Mr. Tim Graham

Published

14 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Murray
| Jan. 15, 1962 | yesterday

Mr. Tim Graham, age 64, of Dexter, Kentucky passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at his home.
          Mr. Graham was born on January 15, 1962, in Murray, Kentucky to the late Jerry Graham and Janice (Staples) McCuiston. He worked in the construction industry.
          Survivors include two sisters, LaDon Haley Berlin of Evansville, Indiana and Kristi Hopkins and husband Chris of Murray, Kentucky; one niece, Emily Don Hopkins of Murray, Kentucky; three nephews, Adam Haley of Springfield, Illinois, Jason Haley of Evansville, Indiana, and Zachery Hopkins of Murray, Kentucky; one great niece, Audrey Haley of Paducah, Kentucky; as well as one great nephew, Weston Haley of Okawville, Illinois.

          A memorial visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services. A private family service will be held.
          Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Humane Society of Calloway County, 607 Poplar Street, Suite A1, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
          Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com

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Kentucky

A Kentucky Derby fixture steps away: Mike Battaglia retires as oddsmaker

Published

1 day ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

A Kentucky Derby fixture steps away: Mike Battaglia retires as oddsmaker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mike Battaglia, who set the morning-line odds for every Kentucky Derby since 1974, is retiring ahead of next month’s 152nd edition.

Battaglia correctly identified the Kentucky Derby favorite 39 times in 51 runnings for a success rate of 76.5%.

He also served as Churchill Downs’ announcer from 1977-97 and later as simulcast host from 1997-2007.

“I’m very appreciative of everyone at Churchill Downs for the opportunity over the years,” Battaglia said Friday in a release from the track. ”It’s been a great run, but I felt like it was the right time to step away and let someone else take it forward.”

The track has named Nick Tammaro to succeed Battaglia. Tammaro currently works in a variety of industry roles: morning-line oddsmaker at Keeneland, track announcer at Sam Houston racetrack, and handicapper at TwinSpires.

“It’s an honor to take over for Mike,” Tammaro said. “He’s a legend in our industry and someone I’ve looked up to for a long time. I just hope to do his line justice.”

AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing