ESPN reporter makes unpopular prediction for Tennessee Vols vs Kentucky Wildcats matchup
ESPN college football reporter Adam Rittenberg made a prediction for the Tennessee Vols' matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington on Saturday night that UT fans probably won't love. Rittenberg, who has covered college football for ESPN since 2008, picked Kentucky to beat Tennessee as his Week 9 upset pick. From ESPN.com: I hit on […]
ESPN college football reporter Adam Rittenberg made a prediction for the Tennessee Vols' matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington on Saturday night that UT fans probably won't love.
Rittenberg, who has covered college football for ESPN since 2008, picked Kentucky to beat Tennessee as his Week 9 upset pick.
From ESPN.com: I hit on my last upset pick involving UK (home loss to Missouri), so let's flip it this time. Kentucky has had an extra week to prepare and heal up, especially along the offensive line, where guards Jager Burton and Dylan Ray could be available, along with linebacker Trevin Wallace and nose guard Keeshawn Silver. Tennessee, meanwhile, has to go back on the road after that awful second half in Tuscaloosa. The Wildcats will find a way at home.
It's not shocking that Rittenberg is picking the Wildcats to beat the Vols in Lexington. Tennessee has struggled mightily in road games since beating LSU in Baton Rouge a year ago.
But while Rittenberg wrote that Kentucky "will find a way", history says the Vols are the team that will actually find a way this weekend.
Tennessee has only lost to Kentucky three times since 1985. And those three losses (2011, 2017, and 2020) came during three of the Vols' worst seasons in program history.
While the 2023 season hasn't gone to plan for Tennessee, no one will be describing this season as one of the worst in program history. That's why I think Rittenberg misses on his upset pick this week.
Comment from Kentucky coach suggests that not being able to beat Tennessee is living rent free in Wildcats’ minds
If you're a Tennessee Vols fan, you know how it feels to come up short, more often than not, against the Florida Gators — even when UF doesn't have a very strong team. It's happened countless times to the Vols when playing the Gators, including earlier this season. Regardless of the state of either team, […]
