Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky Prediction, Odds and Key Players to Watch for College Football Week 8 – Sports Illustrated

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The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off their biggest win of the season, upsetting the Oklahoma Sooners to improve to 6-1 on the season. As a result, the Wildcats are now the No. 12-ranked team in the country and are in the mix to make it to the SEC Championship Game.
They're not set as double-digit favorites against the Vanderbilt Commodores in a Week 8 SEC showdown. Let's dive into the odds and my best bet for this game.
Odds via BetMGM Sportsbook
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Kenny Minchey is a big reason for Kentucky being a top-12-ranked team in the country at this point in the season. Not only has he completed 68.4% of passes for 1,552 yards and 13 touchdowns, but maybe even more importantly, he has thrown just one interception. When a quarterback doesn't turn the ball over, he's going to give his team a chance to stay in the game.
I see no reason why Kentucky's hot streak doesn't continue in this spot.
Maybe the most important aspect of this game is going to be the Kentucky rush attack. They have multiple running backs who have been extremely effective this season, and as a whole, they rank 28th in the country in EPA per rush. That's going to set them up well to attack Vanderbilt's biggest weakness, their run defense, which ranks 110th in college football in opponent EPA per rush.
Let's lay the points on the Wildcats at home.
Pick: Kentucky -10.5 (-110) via BetMGM
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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Originally from Nova Scotia, Iain MacMillan is a senior editor covering betting, with a focus on NFL, NHL, and golf. He hosts the Bacon Bets Podcast and has been featured on VSIN, BetQL and Monumental Sports Network. He is a member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association and his beloved Falcons and Maple Leafs break his heart on a yearly basis.
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