Kentucky @ Missouri preview

Kentucky hopes to build on a valiant effort in defeat last week against No. 12 Georgia as the Wildcats visit Missouri in SEC action. Missouri is coming off a bye week after consecutive losses to Vanderbilt and No. 1 Alabama and hopes to even its home record at 3-3. QB James Franklin (knee) has been ruled out, meaning freshman Corbin Berkstresser will get another start. Kentucky has been hampered with injury problems all season and has faced a daunting schedule, with five ranked opponents in its first eight games.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Missouri -13.5

ABOUT KENTUCKY (1-7, 0-5 SEC): The Wildcats gave Georgia a good fight last week as Jonathan George and Raymond Sanders combined for a season-best 206-yard rushing effort. Quarterbacks Jalen Whitlow and Morgan Newton split time and took good care of the football, staying turnover-free for the second consecutive game. Avoiding turnovers remains crucial for the Wildcats, who are 9-2 under coach Joker Phillips when winning the turnover battle. This is a storyline to watch against Missouri, which has at least one takeaway in 25 straight games and is plus-six in turnover margin on the season, compared to Kentucky's minus-five.

ABOUT MISSOURI (3-4, 0-4 SEC): The Tigers will show no sympathy for Kentucky because they have already fallen to top-10 opponents in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Missouri has its fifth shot at its first SEC win. The Tigers started the 2011 season 3-4 as well and finished strong with four wins in their final five contests. Missouri's turnover-hungry defense is led by linebacker Andrew Wilson, who leads the NCAA with four forced fumbles, and cornerback Kip Edwards, who tops all Tigers with five total takeawayss (three fumble recoveries and two interceptions).

EXTRA POINTS:

1. This is just the third meeting between the schools, and the first with each as a member of the SEC. Kentucky won both previous meetings.

2. Dating back to 2010, the Tigers have won seven of their last nine games following a loss.

3. Missouri's Marcus Murphy has four returns for touchdowns this season - leading the NCAA with three punts returned for a score and adding another on a kickoff.


PREDICTION: Missouri 31, Kentucky 13