Auburn faces Kentucky on Saturday in Lexington. 16Powers.com previews this SEC football game and predicts the final score.
Rowan Rehbein, 14Powers.com SEC Football
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TEAM SCHEDULES/RESULTS
Auburn
| Date | Guest | PTs | Home | PTs | Time (EST) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | Alabama A&M | 3 | Auburn | 73 | ESPN+ | 7:30 PM |
| Sep. 7 | California | 21 | Auburn | 14 | ESPN2 | 3:30 PM |
| Sep. 14 | New Mexico | 19 | Auburn | 45 | TBA | 7:00 PM |
| Sep. 21 | Arkansas | 24 | Auburn | 14 | TBA | TBA |
| Sep. 28 | Oklahoma | 27 | Auburn | 21 | TBA | TBA |
| Oct. 5 | Auburn | 13 | Georgia | 31 | TBA | TBA |
| Oct. 19 | Auburn | 17 | Missouri | 21 | ESPN | 9:00 AM |
| Oct. 26 | Auburn | Kentucky | SEC | 7:45 PM | ||
| Nov. 2 | Vanderbilt | Auburn | TBA | TBA | ||
| Nov. 16 | ULM | Auburn | SECN | 12:45 PM | ||
| Nov. 23 | Texas A&M | Auburn | TBA | TBA | ||
| Nov. 30 | Auburn | Alabama | TBA | TBA |
Kentucky
| Date | Guest | PTs | Home | PTs | Time (EST) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | Southern Miss | 0 | Kentucky | 31 | SECN | 7:45 PM |
| Sep. 7 | South Carolina | 31 | Kentucky | 6 | ABC | 3:30 PM |
| Sep. 14 | Georgia | 13 | Kentucky | 12 | ABC | 7:30 PM |
| Sep. 21 | Ohio | 6 | Kentucky | 41 | SECN | 12:45 PM |
| Sep. 28 | Kentucky | 20 | Ole Miss | 17 | TBA | Noon |
| Oct. 12 | Vanderbilt | 20 | Kentucky | 13 | SEC | 4:45 PM |
| Oct. 19 | Kentucky | 20 | Florida | 48 | SEC | 4:45 PM |
| Oct. 26 | Auburn | Kentucky | SEC | 7:45 PM | ||
| Nov. 2 | Kentucky | Tennessee | TBA | TBA | ||
| Nov. 16 | Murray State | Kentucky | ESPN+ | 1:30 PM | ||
| Nov. 23 | Kentucky | Texas | TBA | TBA | ||
| Nov. 30 | Louisville | Kentucky | TBA | TBA |
COLLEGE FOOTBALL RATINGS
| Rating | Auburn | Kentucky |
| ESPN FPI | 32 | 41 |
| Sagarin | 48 | 45 |
| Massey Composite | 60 | 37 |
| PiRate Ratings | 33 | 38 |
KEY STATS
| Statistic | Team | Nat. Rank | Conf. Rank |
Value |
| 3rd down Coversion Pct | Kentucky Auburn |
72 73 |
12 13 |
0.395 0.395 |
| 3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense | Auburn Kentucky |
64 70 |
11 12 |
0.383 0.387 |
| 4th Down Conversion Pct | Kentucky Auburn |
112 117 |
13 15 |
0.400 0.385 |
| 4th Down Conversion Pct Defense | Auburn Kentucky |
87 108 |
13 15 |
0.583 0.667 |
| Blocked Kicks | Auburn | 36 | 3 | 1 |
| Blocked Kicks Allowed | Kentucky Auburn |
1 67 |
1 12 |
0 1 |
| Blocked Punts | Auburn | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| Blocked Punts Allowed | Auburn Kentucky |
1 1 |
1 1 |
0 0 |
| Completion Percentage | Auburn Kentucky |
85 122 |
11 16 |
0.603 0.545 |
| Defensive TDs | Auburn Kentucky |
27 27 |
4 4 |
1 1 |
| Fewest Penalties | Auburn Kentucky |
59 67 |
4 6 |
42 43 |
| Fewest Penalties Per Game | Auburn Kentucky |
57 64 |
4 6 |
6.00 6.14 |
| Fewest Penalty Yards | Kentucky Auburn |
47 73 |
1 6 |
341 388 |
| Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game | Kentucky Auburn |
45 70 |
1 6 |
48.71 55.43 |
| First Downs Defense | Kentucky Auburn |
4 42 |
1 9 |
95 126 |
| First Downs Offense | Kentucky Auburn |
75 84 |
11 14 |
142 139 |
| Fumbles Lost | Kentucky Auburn |
26 119 |
5 15 |
2 7 |
| Fumbles Recovered | Auburn Kentucky |
95 95 |
12 12 |
2 2 |
| Kickoff Return Defense | Kentucky Auburn |
25 43 |
6 10 |
16.64 17.91 |
| Kickoff Returns | Auburn Kentucky |
24 29 |
1 3 |
24.00 23.44 |
| Net Punting | Auburn Kentucky |
11 49 |
7 12 |
43.41 39.96 |
| Passes Had Intercepted | Kentucky Auburn |
91 113 |
13 16 |
7 9 |
| Passes Intercepted | Kentucky Auburn |
48 90 |
6 14 |
6 4 |
| Passing Offense | Auburn Kentucky |
32 121 |
6 16 |
264.3 167.9 |
| Passing Yards Allowed | Kentucky Auburn |
22 76 |
3 13 |
178.9 221.7 |
| Passing Yards per Completion | Auburn Kentucky |
5 62 |
2 11 |
15.04 12.24 |
| Punt Return Defense | Auburn Kentucky |
1 52 |
1 9 |
-3.00 6.00 |
| Punt Returns | Auburn Kentucky |
81 103 |
12 14 |
6.91 5.20 |
| Red Zone Defense | Auburn Kentucky |
9 56 |
4 9 |
0.696 0.818 |
| Red Zone Offense | Kentucky Auburn |
65 90 |
8 15 |
0.850 0.800 |
| Rushing Defense | Kentucky Auburn |
22 40 |
5 13 |
104.7 118.1 |
| Rushing Offense | Auburn Kentucky |
72 78 |
10 11 |
157.6 152.0 |
| Sacks Allowed | Auburn Kentucky |
78 91 |
7 11 |
2.14 2.43 |
| Scoring Defense | Kentucky Auburn |
28 39 |
8 10 |
19.3 20.9 |
| Scoring Offense | Auburn Kentucky |
71 115 |
13 16 |
28.1 20.4 |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed | Auburn Kentucky |
49 77 |
5 9 |
5.00 5.71 |
| Team Passing Efficiency | Auburn Kentucky |
27 124 |
6 16 |
155.15 113.92 |
| Team Passing Efficiency Defense | Auburn Kentucky |
34 109 |
7 15 |
118.41 144.28 |
| Team Sacks | Auburn Kentucky |
34 54 |
7 11 |
2.43 2.14 |
| Team Tackles for Loss | Kentucky Auburn |
35 68 |
7 13 |
6.6 5.7 |
| Time of Possession | Kentucky Auburn |
51 123 |
7 16 |
30:52 26:30 |
| Total Defense | Kentucky Auburn |
12 45 |
4 12 |
283.6 339.9 |
| Total Offense | Auburn Kentucky |
49 115 |
9 15 |
421.9 319.9 |
| Turnover Margin | Kentucky Auburn |
78 126 |
13 16 |
-0.14 -1.43 |
| Turnovers Gained | Kentucky Auburn |
84 106 |
12 16 |
8 6 |
| Turnovers Lost | Kentucky Auburn |
57 130 |
7 16 |
9 16 |
| Winning Percentage | Kentucky Auburn |
82 107 |
14 15 |
0.429 0.286 |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Auburn
QB Brady Cook, RB Nate Noel, WR Luther Burden, WR Mookie Cooper, TE Brett Norfleet, C Connor Tollison, OLCam’ron Johnson, OLArmand Membou, DE Johnny Walker, DT Kristian Williams, LB Triston Newsom, LB Daylan Carnell, CB Toriano Pride, CB Dreyden Norwood, S Marvin Burks, S Joseph Charleston, K Blake Craig, P Luke Bauer
Kentucky
QB Brock Vandagriff, RB DeaMonte Trayanum, WR Dane Key, WR Barion Brown, TE Josh Kattus, C Eli Cox, OL Dylan Ray , OL Gerald Mincey, DT Deone Walker, DE JJ Weaver, LB Deryk Jackson, LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, CB Maxwell Hairston, CB Jantzen Dunn, S Zion Childress, S Jordan Lovett, K Alex Raynor, P Aidan Laros, ATH Barion Brown
INJURIES
Auburn
Player POS Status
C. Anthony CB Questionable
J. Waller DE Questionable
T. Scott CB Questionable
B. Frazier TE Questionable
C. Anthony CB Questionable
B. Battie RB Out
Kentucky
Player POS Status
D. Trayanum RB Questionable
B. White WR Questionable
J. Patterson RB Questionable
J. Kauwe K Questionable
C. Ford OL Questionable
M. Hairston DB Questionable
T. Gadson DL Questionable
J. Hayes DL Questionable
D. Henry-Young DL Questionable
J. Brown LB Questionable
Source: Covers.com
Auburn vs. Kentucky Football Series History
Auburn leads 27-6-1
COMMENTS
This weekend’s matchup between Kentucky and Auburn promises to be an electrifying clash in the SEC, with both teams eager to bolster their standings. The storied history between these two programs adds another layer of intrigue. Historically, Auburn has held the upper hand, but recent seasons have shown Kentucky making significant strides under head coach Mark Stoops.
Stoops, now in his tenth year at the helm, has transformed Kentucky into a formidable contender in the SEC. His focus on building a strong defensive unit and a balanced offense has paid dividends, as evidenced by the Wildcats’ recent success. Key players like quarterback Brock Vandagriff and defensive lineman Deone Walker will be crucial for Kentucky’s offensive strategy. Vandagriff, with his ability to make quick decisions and stretch the field, will need to avoid turnovers against a tough Auburn defense.
On the other side, Auburn is led by head coach Hugh Freeze, who is known for his offensive prowess and ability to adapt his game plans. Freeze’s recent recruitment efforts have infused talent into the program, making Auburn a dangerous opponent. Quarterback Payton Thorne will be vital for Auburn’s offense, as his dual-threat capability can keep Kentucky’s defense guessing.
The stakes are high, with both teams vying for bowl eligibility and a strong finish to the season. The outcome may hinge on which team can impose its will early in the game. Expect a hard-fought battle, but with Kentucky’s home-field advantage and a more cohesive team, they might edge out a victory. Ultimately, this game could serve as a pivotal moment for both programs, shaping their trajectories in the weeks to come. As always in the SEC, expect drama and intensity from start to finish.
PREDICTIONS
14Powers Preseason Prediction
Alabama 27, Missouri 24
14Powers.com Gameweek Prediction
Kentucky 28, Auburn 21
14Powers Preseason Prediction
Alabama 27, Missouri 24
14Powers.com Gameweek Prediction
Kentucky 28, Auburn 21
Saturday‘s game kicks off at 3:30 PM. Watch this SEC football game on the ABC Network.
