It is nearly soccer time within the Bluegrass for the ultimate time in 2022. Listed below are some closing ideas and predictions about how the Music Metropolis Bowl matchup between Kentucky and Iowa may play out on Saturday.

DOES THE REMATCH MATTER?

The Southeastern Convention bowl choice course of is meant to be designed partially to keep away from repeat matchups within the mid-tier bowls, however nobody at Kentucky, Iowa, the Music Metropolis Bowl or SEC workplace objected to the Wildcats and Hawkeyes squaring off for the second season in a row.

Now, the 2 groups will bookend 2022 with bowl matchups, having performed within the Citrus Bowl on New 12 months’s Day and the Music Metropolis Bowl on New 12 months’s Eve. Absolutely revenge for UK’s Citrus Bowl win is a motivating issue for Iowa this week, however regardless of enjoying twice in the identical calendar 12 months, the 2 rosters already look dramatically completely different than they did twelve months in the past.

Simply take a look at Kentucky’s game-winning drive within the Citrus Bowl for proof.

Star broad receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, the MVP of the Citrus Bowl, who caught 4 passes for 86 yards on the drive, is within the NFL. Quarterback Will Levis, who threw for 233 yards within the win, has opted out of the Music Metropolis Bowl to start making ready for the NFL Draft. Working again Chris Rodriguez, who scored the game-winning landing, and linebacker DeAndre Sq., who grabbed the game-clinching interception, are additionally not enjoying within the Music Metropolis Bowl.

In the meantime, Iowa will begin third-string quarterback Joe Labas in what shall be his school debut. The Hawkeyes quarterback from the Citrus Bowl, Spencer Petras, is out with an harm, and its main rusher, Gavin Williams, has entered the switch portal.

“I believe there are some issues that they’ve executed barely completely different,” UK defensive coordinator Brad White mentioned. “I believe the idea of what they do, they have been doing it for a very long time. So, I believe just like us. I believe they may take a look at us and say there is a base and a basis that is our core.

“That is what we anchor into. They do the identical. However there’s at all times tweaks and modifications. They’ve executed that. They’ve tailored to their personnel this 12 months. We have executed the identical, however that recreation final 12 months clearly is type of a superb template to begin from and then you definitely construct off of that.”

WINNING STREAKS ON THE LINE

Kentucky enters the Music Metropolis Bowl with the nation’s longest energetic non-conference successful streak at 20 video games. Included in that streak are 4 consecutive bowl wins.

The Wildcats’ final non-conference loss truly got here within the Music Metropolis Bowl in 2017 towards Northwestern. UK is 12-9 all time in bowl video games and 4-2 in them with Mark Stoops as coach. Kentucky is enjoying in a bowl for a school-record seventh consecutive season.

Included within the bowl streak are wins over Iowa and Penn State, however Kentucky is simply 30-37-4 all-time towards the Massive Ten Convention.

“I have not misplaced a bowl recreation right here but, and I do not plan to begin dropping one now,” senior offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey mentioned this month. “I do not care who’s enjoying. I am going to ensure I can do all the things I can to ensure these guys are able to go.”

KENTUCKY FOOTBALL INJURY REPORT

The place to begin?

Levis, Rodriguez and regular beginning cornerback Carrington Valentine have opted out of enjoying within the recreation. Sq. introduced he wouldn’t play resulting from a lingering harm and “some private causes.” Seven Wildcats who performed within the regular-season finale, together with working again Kavosiey Smoke, tight finish Keaton Upshaw and broad receivers DeMarcus Harris, Chauncey Magwood and Rahsaan Lewis, have entered the switch portal this month. Tight finish Josh Kattus and defensive lineman Kahlil Saunders will miss the sport resulting from accidents.

With so many gamers usually a part of the rotation unavailable, a number of freshmen who redshirted this season shall be counted on for contributions within the recreation. Amongst them is quarterback Destin Wade, who may not begin however will nearly actually make his school debut.

Quarterback Kaiya Sheron and working again JuTahn McClain can even be wanted in expanded roles after backing up Levis and Rodriguez through the common season. Changing Sq. must be extra manageable as weakside linebacker Trevin Wallace began the ultimate 4 video games of the common season whereas Sq. was injured.

“We now have the depth to actually get by means of a recreation,” Stoops mentioned. “Will probably be just a little thinner, however it’s one recreation. We really feel very assured within the guys that we now have.”

FINAL PREDICTIONS

Kentucky 14, Iowa 10: Las Vegas odds-makers have established the over/underneath for mixed factors at 31. It’s actually inside the realm of potentialities that one workforce doesn’t present as much as the bowl motivated to play permitting this to show into a snug victory for somebody, however the sensible cash is on the underneath. Stoops and Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz each most well-liked a mode that emphasised complementary soccer and ball management. With two sub-100 offenses lacking key gamers matching up towards two top-20 defenses, anticipate each groups to go conservative with a view to keep away from turnovers and errors that may arrange a brief area for his or her opponent.

MVP: Barion Brown. I am giving Kentucky the sting nearly completely due to the Wildcats’ benefit at broad receiver. Who throws the passes is a serious query, however between Brown, Tayvion Robinson, Dane Key, Dekel Crowdus, Jordan Anthony and Brandon White there must be elite pace on the sector to interrupt off a few huge performs. Brown is clearly motivated to have an enormous efficiency in his return to his hometown. Greater than 200 all-purpose yards are potential between his kickoff return alternatives and the chance of getting the ball in house on display screen passes, even when the Wildcats’ quarterbacks will not be able to launch a bunch of deep passes.

The spreads: Iowa was favored by 2.5 factors as of Friday. Given the questions on each offenses, it appears truthful to offer the benefit to the workforce with the stouter protection. On paper at the very least, that’s Iowa. The Hawkeyes rank fourth nationally in yards allowed per recreation (277.9) and sixth in factors allowed per recreation (14.4).

Barion Brown all-purpose yards: 225

Iowa sacks: 3

Destin Wade whole yards: 175

recreation time: 2 hours, 50 minutes

THE LAST WORD

“Even this 12 months, it isn’t meaningless. Folks may suppose that I believe it’s as a result of I am not enjoying. Certain, if we had been enjoying for a Faculty Soccer Playoff spot, I am most likely enjoying, however this is a chance for therefore many guys to form of show for as soon as and for all, final time this season, make a final impression. A minimum of to show to themselves and the coaches and everybody else on the earth what they’re able to and what this workforce is able to. I do know all these dudes who’re enjoying are actually pumped to indicate that and are actually excited to play a very good Iowa workforce.”

— Kentucky quarterback Will Levis