Kentucky football is historically just an exciting time filler until basketball season starts. Head coach Mark Stoops has changed that culture by leading the Cats to their best season since 1977 with a. 9-3 record. Kentucky started out the year red-hot with a 5-0 record with dominant upset wins over Florida (first since 1986) and Mississippi St. The Wildcats stubbed their toe a few times in the second half of the season but finished strong with a 56-10 drubbing of rival Louisville. The season earned them a berth in the Citrus Bowl.
Penn St. finished their season 9-3 with a big win over Iowa. After back to back heartbreaking losses early to Ohio St. and Michigan St. the Nittany Lions won five of their final six. Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley headlines a high octane attack that will test the Wildcats eighth-ranked scoring defense.
Players To Watch
Kentucky’s star running Benny Snell Jr. leads the Wildcats lethal rush attack against a Penn St. rush defense that has allowed 4.0 yards per carry this season. Snell has rushed 263 times for 1305 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Against Mississippi State’s ninth-ranked rush defense Snell ran for 165 yards and four touchdowns. Snell will be a major headache for the Penn St. front seven.
Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson started out the season struggling to acclimate to SEC level football. Benched multiple times this season for back up Gunnar Hoak, Wilson displayed great resiliency and rapid improvement as the season progressed. Wilson completed 93 of 131 passes (71%) the last half of the season for an average of 209.4 yards. He also tacked on seven touchdown passes and only three interceptions after struggling with turnovers early. Wilson is also a dangerous runner with the football, rushing for 518 yards and four touchdowns.
-
Ep 101: Conference Championship Sunday - Preview, Prop Bets, and Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on January 29, 2023 at 11:25 am
Trace McSorley is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback and has lead Penn St. to back to back 10 win seasons for the first time since 1980-1982. McSorely has had a statistically down year compared to his normal standards. Still he has thrown for 2,284 yards and 16 touchdowns, albeit only completing 53.4% of his passes. McSorely is especially dangerous with his legs, rushing for a career-best 723 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kentucky’s surprising front seven will have their hands full with McSorely.
Kentucky’s front seven will also have to contend with Penn St. running back Miles Sanders. Sanders has had a breakout season behind the departure of former running back Saquon Barkley to the NFL. Sanders is averaging 5.9 yards per carry, rushing 207 times for 1,223 yards and nine touchdowns.
Future Pros In This Game
Sanders and Snell present an interesting running back showdown as the sixth and third rated draft prospects respectively. However, at the time, only Snell has officially declared for the NFL Draft. Kentucky’s outside linebacker/pass rusher Josh Allen won multiple national defensive player of the year honors. Allen appears to be a sure-fire first round pick and has the second-best odds at being the top overall pick in the draft. Allen’s impact on this game will be a key factor in whether or not the Cats win their first bowl game since 2008.
Prediction
Penn St. comes in favored by 6.5 points with a projected total of 47 points. This game has the potential to blow the total out of the water. McSorely has a great game in his final game as a Nittany Lion. However, the emotional wave of such beloved players as Benny Snell and Josh Allen will prove too much. Wilson will move the ball efficiently and Snell breaks Kentucky’s all-time rush record in this one.
Kentucky 31 Penn St. 25
-
Ep 141: Andy Reid, Eagles, And Conference Championship Weekend w/ Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former Eagles President Joe Banner to talk […]
-
Ep 140: The 49ers/Cowboys Rivalry With Former San Francisco Tight End Brent Jonesby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former 49ers tight end and three time Super […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
Ep.130: Bowling For Talentby Full Press Coverage on January 28, 2023 at 6:00 am
Biggs sits down with Kenneth Berry from the Tangents And Touchdowns […]
-
(Season 3.1) Commanders Roundtable w/ Deuce, DH, and DTby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 3:56 am
George Carmi hosts Deuce, DH, and DT as they discuss the latest topics of […]
-
1/27 - Conference Championship Preview: Who is Going To The Super Bowl?by Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 9:50 am
Ian and John preview Conference Championship Weekend and give their picks […]
-
1/23 - Divisional Round Recap; Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles, and 49ers Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Ian and John recap Divisional Round Weekend in the NFL. Learn more about […]
-
1/20 - Buccaneers Fire Byron Leftwich, NFL Divisional Round Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 20, 2023 at 10:19 am
Ian and John discuss the firing of Byron Leftwich and whether or not it […]
-
1/19 - Brady/Gronk Reunion, Aaron Rodgers, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 10:14 am
Ian and John discuss the potential of Brady and Ground teaming up in 2023, […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 211 "Steel Reserve"by Boot 2 The Face on January 28, 2023 at 6:59 pm
We preview the Royal Rumble and other things in the week of pro wreslting. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
Clippers at Cavsby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 6:45 pm
-
Pick & Rollout: Memphis at Tulsaby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 6:00 pm
-
Pacers at Grizzliesby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 4:30 pm
-
Pick & Rollout: Drake at Belmontby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Heat at Hornetsby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 2:30 pm
-
Pick & Rollout: Rutgers at Iowaby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
Pick & Rollout: Michigan State at Purdueby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 12:00 pm
-
Ep 101: Conference Championship Sunday - Preview, Prop Bets, and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on January 29, 2023 at 11:25 am
-
Pick & Rollout: Michigan at Penn Stateby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 10:00 am
-
Pick & Rollout: Providence at Villanovaby Broken Controller Media on January 29, 2023 at 8:00 am
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm