The Kentucky Wildcats are off to the best start since 2007 where the Wildcats started 5-0. One major difference in the two teams is the 2018 Kentucky Wildcats have beaten three top 25 teams and snapped the 31 games losing streak to the Florida Gators.
Kentucky has won the first five games on the backs of an explosive offense and a hard-nosed SEC style defense. Benny Snell, Josh Allen, Lynn Bowden, and Kash Daniel have been huge for the Wildcats so far leading the charge for the entire first month of the season.
Kentucky has fought their way into the top 15 in both the AP and Coaches poll heading into week six.
With the Wildcats being an underdog for the fourth consecutive SEC game we take a look at five reasons why Kentucky is a legitimate SEC East contender this year.
1. Benny Snell
Benny Snell has carried the Kentucky offense on his back for the first part of the season. Snell has 639 yards on the season, and eight touchdowns. Snell is considered as one of the best running backs not only in the SEC but also in the country.
2. Physical play
Kentucky has been dominating both sides of the ball up front on the line. Kentucky comes out and throws the first punch and the Wildcats have yet to fold under pressure. Peter Burns of the SEC Network had this to say about the Wildcats “ Kentucky football is everything I thought Mississippi State football would be at this point in the season. Wildcats are rolling, scary physical.”
3. Leadership
The Wildcats have leaders on both sides of the ball with the six horses on this team. Benny Snell, Terry Wilson, Kash Daniel, CJ Conrad, Josh Allen, and Mike Edwards. These let alone are a huge factor into Kentucky being a legit SEC East Contender. They play as their brother's keeper much like Alabama, and Georgia. These guys carry the team on their back and are a huge reason as to why Kentucky is undefeated.
4. Blue Collar
This Kentucky team takes on the work ethic of Head Coach Mark Stoops with the blue-collar mentality. This Kentucky team lines up each and every day in practice with a chip on their shoulder. Coach Stoops who is from Youngstown, Ohio has been preaching that kind of work ethic for his six years at Kentucky. Kentucky is a team who throws the first punch and does not let up the entire game.
5. A new era of Kentucky Football
Kentucky football has been on the verge of tipping over and having a special year for the last two years under Mark Stoops. With the streak ending in Gainesville and two top 25 wins, this Kentucky team is battle tested and battle ready. The Wildcats will look to carry the momentum this will into College Station with a huge matchup with the Texas A&M Aggies.
Kentucky will take their perfect 5-0 record on the road this weekend as the Wildcats travel to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies. Kentucky will look to beat the spread for a 4th time in SEC play on Saturday as the Wildcats opened as a six-point underdog to the Aggies. If Kentucky finds a way to win in College station the College Football world will be forced to give Kentucky the credit they rightfully deserve.
The game will kickoff at 6:00 pm on ESPN Saturday night in College Station.