Jacksonville State @ Kentucky preview

THE STORY: Coming off a bye week, Kentucky looks to avoid a fifth straight loss when it hosts Jacksonville State of the FCS. In their last outing, the Wildcats were outgained 639-96 and held to 17 passing yards in a 54-3 loss to then-No. 13 South Carolina. Kentucky has been outscored 89-10 in its last two games, both of which were against top-25 opponents. Jacksonville State enters off a 44-14 win over Austin Peay. The Gamecocks, who average more than 31 points, scored 28 second-quarter points en route to their fourth straight win since losing to Chattanooga Sept. 10. This will be the first meeting between the schools.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: NONE

ABOUT JACKSONVILLE STATE (5-1, 4-0 OVC): Jacksonville State, ranked eighth in FCS, is led by Georgia transfer Washaun Ealey’s 594 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Ealey, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in three straight games, finished with 124 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win. Kentucky will also have to watch out for dual-threat quarterback Coty Blanchard, who has passed for six touchdowns and rushed for three more. The Gamecocks have scored on 21 of 23 trips to the red zone. They allow 24.5 points per game.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (2-4, 0-3 SEC): Kentucky ranks 118th in the nation in total yards (229) and scoring (13.0). Quarterback Morgan Newton is coming off a career-high 54 yards rushing in the loss to South Carolina, but has been ineffective through the air, throwing for more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (6). The Wildcats, who have scored more than 18 points only once this year, are giving up more than 408 yards and 29 points. Just when it looked like things couldn’t get worse for Kentucky, its leading rusher — Josh Clemons — was lost for the season with a knee injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Jacksonville State is 4-13 against FBS teams, its last win coming 49-48 in double overtime against Ole Miss in 2010.

2. Kentucky is 5-0 all-time against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference and is 46-19 in homecoming games since 1946.

3. Under head coach Joker Phillips, the Wildcats are 5-0 in games in which they win the turnover battle. They're 2-2 with an even margin and 1-9 with a losing margin.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 27, Jacksonville State 24 – The week off refreshed the Wildcats, and they'll finally get their offense going.