Skip to content

CFB bad line of the week: Has Kentucky quit?

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.

Auburn came through for us in our most recent bad line of the week pick, covering double digits against Tennessee.

We're staying in the SEC for our Week 14 selection. But this time, we're fading a double-digit favorite.

Bad line of the week: Kentucky (-11.5 vs. South Carolina)

There were high hopes for Kentucky entering 2020. Head coach Mark Stoops clocked out with an 8-5 record last season, his fourth straight winning campaign.

But this isn't a program I feel comfortable wagering on at this point, as the Wildcats have seemingly been in free fall since the beginning of the season.

Kentucky is just 3-6 entering Week 14, and the advanced metrics aren't particularly flattering, as illustrated by the program's gradual dip in SP+ ranking:

Week National SP+ Rank
1 No. 22
2 No. 16
3 No. 20
4 No. 43
5 No. 42
6 No. 33
7 No. 36
8 No. 53
9 No. 61
10 No. 58
11 No. 55
12 No. 68
13 No. 82

The Wildcats own a minus-102 net margin over their current 1-4 skid. They're coming off a 24-point loss to Florida, which followed a 60-point shellacking on the road against Alabama.

After losing the total yards battle in three of its first four games, Kentucky's been outgained by an average of 175 yards in four of the last five. There's been hardly any fight in this program. Considering what the Wildcats have endured, frankly, I can't blame them.

Kentucky has been put through the wringer in 2020. Linebacker and multi-year contributor Chris Oats was hospitalized in May with an undisclosed medical condition, and offensive line coach John Schlarman died of cancer at the age of 45 in November.

The Wildcats have all but packed it in with nothing at stake down the stretch. Star defensive back Kelvin Joseph recently opted out, while Stoops was originally unsure if his team would even accept a bowl bid.

Now ask yourself: "Is this a team I want to lay double digits on?"

Kentucky has been an awesome fade as a home favorite, going just 6-13 against the spread the last 19. Stoops has struggled to cover when giving points, posting a 1-3 ATS mark this season.

South Carolina hasn't done much in 2020, but it's only 11 spots back of Kentucky in SP+ rankings.

Only one team is showing up Saturday. Take the points with the Gamecocks.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox