The Kentucky Wildcats have made slow, but incremental progress under head coach Mark Stoops during his five-year run at the SEC program. Now, after reaching the double-digit win mark for the first time since 1977, all eyes will be on the ‘Cats when they take to the gridiron for the quickly-approaching 2019 regular season.
Whether you plan on betting or or against Kentucky more often than not this coming season, there are a bunch of things you need to know about the SEC championship longshots before you lay down your hard-earned betting bucks on or against Kentucky. Thanks to my expert 2019 college football betting guide on the Wildcats, you’re going to be well-armed with the expert insight you’ll need in order to maximize your chances of cashing in on the once perennial losers this coming season. Let’s get started.
Kentucky Wildcats 2019 College Football Season Betting Guide
Betting Statistics
- ATS: 10-3 (W-L) / 6-7-0 (ATS) / 2-5-0 (Home) / 4-2-0 (Away) / 3-7-0 (Grass) / 3-0-0 (Turf)
- O/U: 6-7-0 (W-L) / 4-3-0 (Home) / 2-4-0 (Away) / 4-6-0 (Grass) / 2-1-0 (Turf) / 43.5 (Total)
While the Wildcats went a stellar 10-3 last season, they also struggled to cover the chalk in going 6-7 ATS including a dismal 2-5 ATS at home. Kentucky also posted an identical 6-7 mark against their Over/Under total odds while playing under the total four times on the road.
Team Leaders
- Touchdowns: Benny Snell Jr. (16)
- Rushing: Benny Snell Jr. (1449)
- Passing: Terry Wilson (1889)
- Receiving: Lynn Bowden Jr. (745)
- Interceptions: Darius West (3)
All-time program rushing leader Benny Snell Jr. scored a team-high 16 touchdowns while putting up 1,449 yards on the ground. Quarterback Terry Wilson passed for a modest 1,889 yards while finishing a discouraging 14th in the SEC in passing yards per game. Now, junior wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. caught 67 passes for a team-high 745 yards while senior Darius West recorded a team-high three interceptions. Snell Jr. and West are both gone, but Wilson and Bowden jr. return in 2019.
Offense
- Total Yards: 361.5 / Rank 103
- Passing Yards: 161.5 / Rank 117
- Rushing Yards: 200.1 /Rank 39
- Points Scored: 26.6 / Rank 85
- Field Goal %: 60 / Rank 118
Kentucky might have had a seriously surprising year in 2018, but it wasn’t because they dominated on offense. The Wildcats closed out the 2018 campaign ranked 103rd overall, 117th in passing, 39th in rushing and an uninspiring 85th in scoring (26.6 ppg).
Defense
- Total Yards: 332.8 / Rank 21
- Passing Yards: 186.3 / Rank 18
- Rushing Yards: 146.5 /Rank 45
- Points Allowed: 16.8 / Rank 6
- Field Goal %: 61.1 / Rank 26
If you didn’t know, Kentucky was absolutely phenomenal on defense a year ago. The Wildcats finished the 2018 campaign ranked an eye-opening 21st in total defense, an even more impressive 18th against the pass, 45th against the run and a stellar sixth in points allowed (16.8 ppg).
Outlook
I know Kentucky had a phenomenal season a year ago, but heading into 2019, Mark Stoops has question marks on both sides of the ball. On offense, he needs to find five new starters including All-American offensive lineman Bunchy Stallings and two other starters on the offensive line. On defense, where the Cats succeeded in a big way, Kentucky must also overcome the loss of National Defensive Player of the Year Josh Allen and a whopping six other starters.
While I can definitely see Kentucky taking s slight step backwards this coming season in the win department, Kentucky has managed to win at least seven games in each of the last three seasons and Stoops has some impressive incoming talent to rebuild with in 2019 starting with former U.S. Army All-American recruits Kash Daniel (linebacker), Landon Young (tackle) and Drake Jackson (center). I’m thinking the Cats will record seven wins or eight at most in 2019 and you should too.
