PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Benny Snell bounced back from an off night in the loss to Texas A&M (60 rushing yards) to rush for 169 yards on 32 carries in the 14-7 win over Vanderbilt. He accounted for 74 of the 80 yards Kentucky had to negotiate for its go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
–WR Lynn Bowden was about the only bright spot in the Wildcats’ passing game. He had all three of the team’s receptions, but they were good for only 18 yards. He has the big-play potential to juice up the attack, however, which Kentucky no doubt will need in the division race.
–LB Josh Allen is a legitimate first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft and has the potential to harass Missouri QB Drew Lock. Allen has 45 tackles with 12.5 for losses (8.0 sacks) and has forced three fumbles. “I may say this every week — I’m not saying he is because I don’t know, I haven’t watched everybody — but I’d like to see people play better than him, just across the board,” Stoops said. “I’d like to see who’s playing better defensive football at any position because he is a dominant player and doing everything for us. He’s playing at a very high level.”
–LB Jamar Watson recorded a sack for his fourth consecutive game, Kentucky’s longest such streak since Allen had a sack in each of the first six games last year. For the season, Watson has 19 tackles for the season and has broken up four passes.
SERIES HISTORY: Kentucky leads Missouri 5-3. Kentucky won the last meeting 40-34 in 2017.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He’s a playmaker. He’s a guy that we put the ball in the air and give him a good opportunity, he’s going to make somebody miss. He’s going to make tough catches.” — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops on WR Lynn Bowden.
