Louisiana-Monroe @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) UL Monroe 13, Kentucky 36

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops will have his team on letdown alert Saturday when the Wildcats host Louisiana-Monroe. Coming off an emotionally-draining 45-38 upset of South Carolina, and now harboring thoughts of an SEC East title, the surprising Wildcats must be mentally strong and physically prepared for a Warhawks team that is used to meeting opponents from major conferences. Louisiana-Monroe defeated Wake Forest this season 17-10 and is led by a senior leader under center in Pete Thomas.

The Wildcats have won consecutive games since a heartbreaking 36-30, triple-overtime loss at Florida, yet have been lost in the mix of the SEC’s breakout bunch this season -- a group including Mississippi and Mississippi State. Kentucky has balance on offense, a burgeoning star at quarterback in Patrick Towles and is playing with a chip on its shoulder even as Stoops tries to deflect the praise that seems to be building by the week. “There is a lot to correct. There is still a lot more in this team,” Stoops told reporters this week. “We can be a lot better and we're going to continue to work extremely hard to improve.”

TV: Noon ET, SEC Network. LINE: Kentucky -21.5

ABOUT LOUISIANA-MONROE (3-2): Thomas has averaged 300 yards per game through the air with four touchdown passes in three victories, yet he went 16-of-30 for just 77 yards in the 31-0 loss at LSU. He could use a little help in the backfield, as the Warhawks have used only two ball carriers all season with Centarius Donald and Tyler Cain averaging just 86 yards per game combined. Louisiana-Monroe is 58th in the nation in points allowed (24), but the Warhawks gave up 572 total yards and 29 first downs in a disheartening 28-14 loss at Arkansas State last week.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (4-1): Towles has thrown for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns while four Wildcats have topped 100 rushing yards, but Stoops’ defense has shouldered its share of the load as well. The Wildcats frustrated Vanderbilt in a 17-7 win on Sept. 27, held the Gamecocks to seven fourth-quarter points in last week's rally and are 24th in the nation in points allowed (19.6). Kentucky has posted six interceptions the last two games and nine overall, including one each from A.J. Stamps, Ashely Lowery, and Alvin Dupree versus South Carolina.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kentucky leads the all-time series 3-1 and defeated the Warhawks 36-13 at home on Oct. 24, 2009 in the last meeting.

2. Even with the surge, Stoops is still only 6-11 overall and 2-9 in the SEC in the middle of his second season at Kentucky.

3. A victory would give Kentucky its first three-game winning streak since defeating Louisville, Western Kentucky and Akron to open the season in 2010.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 40, Louisiana-Monroe 23