Bodog Beat

On paper, this should be an easy one for the Alabama Crimson Tide to win and cover. (Wikimedia Images)

Could Saturday's matchup in Lexington be a trap game for the Alabama Crimson Tide?

There are a few reasons that might be the case: 1) It may be hard for Alabama to take Kentucky seriously, considering the Tide are 34-2-1 all-time against UK; 2) Bama has a huge game next week with Ole Miss that it might be looking ahead to; 3) This is the Crimson Tide's first true road game of the year; and 4) Tide star linebacker Dont'a Hightower was lost for the season in last week's win against Arkansas – the sophomore had 16 tackles, four of them for a loss, on the nation's second-ranked defense.

Still, oddsmakers at Bodog are confident in Nick Saban's club, as Alabama is -16 on the site's college football odds. Saban, by the way, has never lost to Kentucky in his head coaching career. And if Saban needs to  motivate his guys, all he has to do is look at last year's 17-14 home escape against Kentucky.

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It seems unrealistic that Kentucky would stop an Alabama offense averaging more than 267 yards per game rushing and 244 passing; that unit is scoring 8 more points per game than it was last year at this time. QB Greg McElroy, who many thought was the question mark on this team, is third in the NCAA in passing efficiency. But this will be his first start in a true road game.

The Wildcats had no chance last week against Florida, as they allowed the Gators 31 first-quarter points. Coach Rich Brooks said he was embarrassed by that, so expect a much more focused team from the get-go this week. If UK can just hang close through one quarter, it might be in good shape considering the Wildcats have outscored the opposition 35-0 in the second quarter this year.

UK's pass defense has been very good, but the Tide may run at will, so consider that while doing your football betting at Bodog. Tailbacks Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson combine to average 172.8 yards per game, while the UK run defense is No. 105 in the country, allowing 185.7 per outing on the ground.
It doesn't seem fair that UK has to play No. 1 Florida and No. 3 Alabama back-to-back – it is the highest-ranked consecutive opponents the Wildcats have ever played.

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