Alabama Football: Three Bold Predictions for Bama vs Kentucky

1. Alabama Football holds Ray Davis to a season-low rushing total

Kentucky’s offense is led by senior running back Ray Davis, who is one of the SEC’s best at the position. Davis is second in the conference in rushing yards (903) and yards from scrimmage (1,130). He also leads the league with 14 touchdowns from scrimmage.

The Alabama defense is stout against traditional running games, and has not allowed a running back to do much damage all season. I think the Tide will hold Ray Davis to his lowest rushing total of the season. Currently, Davis’ lowest yardage output is 42 yards against Tennessee. He was also held to 52 yards in limited action against Eastern Kentucky and 59 yards against Georgia.

Last season, playing for Vanderbilt, Davis was held to a season-low 17 yards on 11 carries against Alabama.

2. Alabama Football QB Jalen Milroe throws for at least 250 passing yards

This may not seem like a lofty milestone, but it is one Milroe has struggled to hit. Alabama fans would like to see the passing game get back on track this week, and that starts with Milroe delivering with a little more consistency.

For the season, Jalen Milroe averages 229.5 passing yards per game, but he has only eclipsed the 250-yard mark twice (255 yards against Texas and 321 yards against Texas A&M).

Uncoincidentally, those were easily Bama’s worst two games of the season in terms of running the football.

This is a difficult prediction because I don’t expect Alabama Football to struggle on the ground this week. It has done well running the ball in recent weeks, and I fully expect that trend to continue. In a matchup of two teams that will lean heavily on the run, it may be tough for Milroe to hit 250 yards passing. Still, I think a couple of big plays through the air will help get him over the hump.

Alabama Football plays well in the first half

This may be the boldest prediction yet, as Alabama has not put together a complete first half against a quality opponent all season. I think that elusive performance will come this week against Kentucky.

I don’t have any evidence to support this belief; even in its back-to-back convincing wins against Tennessee and LSU, Bama hasn’t necessarily played well before halftime.

Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking, but I think Alabama Football will come out with its hair on fire for this early kickoff in Lexington.