Saturday Down South breaks down why they think Kentucky will get a bowl bid this season.
Here are the top 2 reasons.
1. Boom and Bam. Stanley “Boom” Williams was a known quality for UK, possibly the best player on the team. Williams, who has game-breaker speed, is a threat to score on any touch of the football. Through seven games, he has 639 rushing yards and a 7.1 yards per carry average. But freshman Benny Snell has been a surprise. Snell, who is a punishing, physical runner, has shone in relief of Williams and has 469 rushing yards and 6 TDs on the ground himself. Only four SEC running back duos have as many yards as Williams and Snell, and the only duo that has done so in as few carries is Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice from LSU. Kentucky has a first-class one-two punch in the ground game.
2. The UK defense has improved. The UK defense struggled mightily in the beginning of the season, giving up an alarming 528 yards and 43.7 points per game. Since then, Mark Stoops has taken back the defensive reigns and over its last four games — all in conference — UK has allowed 350 yards and 23.8 points per game. With a largely anonymous defensive front, Kentucky has steadily improved its linebacker and secondary play while winning four of its last five games on that basis.
