The Alabama Crimson Tide is traveling to face the Kentucky Wildcats in an early-season SEC matchup on Saturday, and the historical powerhouse will be looking to avoid an upset. Kentucky head coach Will Stein is encouraging fans to be extremely loud, buzzed and obscene, hoping to create the perfect environment for his team's first win over the Tide since 1997, when Kentucky downed the Tide 40-34 in overtime. That's one of only two wins the Wildcats have ever had over Alabama, but on Saturday, a simulation expects there will be a third — and it won't be close.
Alabama, the 10-point favorite, instead lost by three touchdowns in a 42-21 beatdown, according to a simulation of the game run by Yahoo Sports on the "College Football 27" video game. If the Wildcats were indeed able to beat the Crimson Tide by that much, it would be historic. Besides that six-point win in 1997, Kentucky's only other victory over Alabama was also six points — a 6-0 game in 1922.
Scoring 42 points would also be the most the Wildcats have ever put up against Alabama. Outside of that 40-point game in 1997, Kentucky has never scored more than 27 points, which they put up in a 31-27 loss to Alabama in 1988. With quarterback Kenny Minchey and six players averaging at least 5 yards per rush in the season opener, though, the Wildcats have shown they have talent and can score.
Alabama has a stout defense, though, including preseason All-American safety Bray Hubbard and star pass rusher Yhonzae Pierre. If Stein, Minchey and co. can find a way to put up a few touchdowns against the Tide, though, their loud fans could help take the Alabama offense and first-year starter Keelon Russell out of the game. Stein is counting on that kind of fan performance.
"I want [fans] in there 45 to 30 minutes before, in their seat, standing up, screaming obscenities at our opponent, making them feel very unwanted in Kroger Field and creating an environment of excellence for Kentucky football," Stein said. "I mean, that's what it's about. You want to see a great product on the field.
I want to see insane fans in the stands as well."
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