Kentucky (2-3) at Auburn (5-1)

Sports Network | October 14, 2009

FACTS & STATS: Site: Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451) -- Auburn, Alabama. Television: ESPN U. Home Record: Kentucky 1-2, Auburn 4-0. Away Record: Kentucky 0-1, Auburn 1-1. Neutral Record: Kentucky 1-0, Auburn 0-0. Conference Record: Kentucky 0-3, Auburn 2-1. Series Record: Auburn leads, 24-5-1.

GAME NOTES: The Auburn Tigers are fresh off their first defeat of the season and they are eager to get back on the field against the Kentucky Wildcats this weekend.

Kentucky opened the season with back-to-back victories, but the team has lost three in a row since that point. Making matters worse, all three setbacks have come against SEC competition. Last weekend, the Wildcats put forth a tremendous effort on the road against a nationally-ranked South Carolina squad, but the result was a 28-26 defeat.

As for Auburn, it posted five consecutive wins to open the campaign and earned a spot in the Top-25. Unfortunately, the Tigers were bumped from the rankings because of a lopsided 44-23 loss to Arkansas last weekend. They have allowed 22 points in all but one of their games, but they are still 5-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC action under the guidance of first-year head coach Gene Chizik.

Auburn holds a commanding 24-5-1 series advantage over Kentucky, and the teams haven't met since 2005.

Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline is out indefinitely with a tear of the medial collateral ligament, a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament and a slight cartilage tear in his left knee. The injury was suffered while Hartline was being tackled early in the third quarter of last Saturday's game at South Carolina. The junior has passed for 792 yards to go with six touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 60.6 percent of his throws in five games this season. Junior Will Fidler and true freshman Morgan Newton are competing for the starting QB nod in Hartline's absence, and it wouldn't be surprising to see both players take snaps this weekend. Kentucky is averaging a respectable 25.2 ppg this season to go along with 334.8 total ypg, and both Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb will have to pick up some slack. Locke has rushed for 333 yards and three touchdowns, while Cobb, a versatile threat, has 130 rushing yards and two scores in addition to a team-high 23 catches for 310 yards and four touchdowns. In the narrow loss to South Carolina, Cobb rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and also scored on a reception. Locke had a rushing score as well, but the offense wasn't able to move the ball through the air once Hartline exited and Fidler entered.

Through five outings, Kentucky is yielding 26.8 ppg and 354.8 total ypg. The Wildcats are surrendering 177.8 rushing ypg at a clip of 4.7 ypc, so there is some room for improvement in that area. Against the pass, Kentucky is permitting 13.0 yards per completion and has allowed nine touchdowns while coming up with a mere four interceptions. Micah Johnson is a solid performer for the defense, and he has made 38 total tackles. Trevard Lindley, the team's stud corner, is nursing an injured ankle, and the fact that he is expected to miss this Auburn game really hurts Kentucky's chances. Last weekend, the Wildcats permitted four touchdowns to the South Carolina offense, including three passing scores, and that type of effort won't result in many wins. Sure the Wildcats did post three sacks and a pair of takeaways, but the overall showing of the defense was mediocre at best.

Chizik has brought balance and explosiveness to the Auburn offense this season. The Tigers are scoring 38.3 ppg while racking up 489.8 total ypg. They are gaining 251.8 rushing ypg on an average of 5.6 ypc, and there has been a total of 26 touchdowns scored by the offense, with 13 coming on the ground and 13 through the air. Ben Tate has rushed for 724 yards and four touchdowns, while Onterio McCalebb has added 439 yards and four scores. As for the passing game, Chris Todd has completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 1,363 yards and 12 touchdowns with only one interception. Darvin Adams is the club's best receiver, and he has 25 grabs for 387 yards and five scores. In the loss to Arkansas, Auburn churned out 242 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, but the passing game netted only 133 yards on 15 completions. Tate rushed for 184 yards and two scores on 22 attempts.

Opponents are scoring 27.2 ppg against Auburn, which is allowing 369.3 total ypg. The Tigers have given up 19 touchdowns to opposing offenses, including 11 via the run. The defense hasn't been abysmal by any means, but it is hard to call the group anything other than average. Perhaps the most impressive stat posted by Auburn to date is 14, as in the number of takeaways the club has managed. Craig Stevens has posted 55 total tackles, including five TFLs. He has forced a fumble and intercepted a pass, proving to be a big-time playmaker. Arkansas was able to rack up 28 first downs and 495 yards against Stevens and company last week, including 274 yards through the air. A total of six touchdowns were scored against the defense, a horrendous showing to say the least.

Playing in front of the home crowd with a chip on their shoulders, the Tigers will trounce the Wildcats this weekend. Expect plenty of blitzing against the new Kentucky quarterback.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Auburn 31, Kentucky 10

October 17th, 7:30 p.m. (et)