The Wildcats removed the biggest of monkeys from their backs as they finally beat Florida for the first time in decades. With South Carolina also losing in Week 2, Kentucky suddenly looks like potentially the biggest threat to Georgia in the SEC East.
By Steve Wright
Here are the three keys for their game with the Racers:
Don’t be too confident
The whole trap game theory exists because trap games are real. Kentucky is coming off of the biggest of emotional highs after the Florida win, but that level of energy and excitement could quickly turn if the Wildcats don’t step up to the plate against the Racers.
This is a game that Kentucky has no business losing, but the hangover from the win over the Gators must be put to bed in the first quarter. It would be shocking if Kentucky didn’t come out of the gates a little slowly, taking 15 minutes or so to get back to the grind of just another game.
Letting Murray State stick around past halftime though would be a big problem.
Get the offense rolling
Murray State is not one of those FCS schools that typically causes problems for FBS programs. In its last eight games against FBS schools, the Racers have conceded at least 50 points on seven occasions. The one time that 50 wasn’t reached against Murray State, its opponent scored 48 points.
This means that Murray State is going to have problems containing the Kentucky attack. Terry Wilson proved against Florida that he is absolutely the man for the Wildcats quarterback jab as he passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in the win.
Kentucky was able to get chunk plays against a very good Florida secondary. They should have no problem doing the same against a Murray State defense that is going to be severely overmatched.
Win the turnover battle
The only way that Murray State will stay in this contest is if the Wildcats are loose with the football. Wilson has been good, but there are throws that he makes that are terrifying looking until they are either completed or fall to the ground incomplete.
Murray State, on the other hand, will give Kentucky chances to take the ball away. In its opening game of the season against a Southern Illinois side that put up over 600 yards of offense last week against Mississippi, the Racers fumbled away the ball four times and threw two picks in a 49-10 defeat.
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