A banged-up Alabama Crimson Tide is on the road this week to face Kentucky in Lexington. Alabama is missing some depth pieces down the depth chart, but most importantly, will be without starting right guard Michael Carroll, who is dealing with a minor concussion and was officially ruled out on Friday night after being listed as doubtful throughout the week.
Without Carroll, Alabama will likely kick Mal Waldrep over to right guard with Will Sanders starting for the second week in a row at left guard. Carroll is a big loss, but Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide have got to figure out how to get this win anyway.
DeBoer's struggles as a road favorite are well documented. Alabama has dropped three of these types of games in his two seasons in Tuscaloosa, falling to both Vanderbilt and Oklahoma in 2024, and opening the 2025 season with a loss to Florida State.
Kentucky fans and media are pumped full of confidence that they are going to be the next to upset the Crimson Tide. New Kentucky head coach Will Stein is desperate for a signature win to kickstart his tenure in Lexington. DeBoer and Alabama can't let that happen.
Betting odds for Alabama at Kentucky
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 5am ET on Saturday.
Spread: Alabama -10.5
Over/Under: 48.5
Moneyline: Alabama -375/Kentucky +290
Alabama vs. Kentucky game predictions
Kentucky is confident, but Alabama has some obvious advantages in this matchup. The biggest of which might be Kane Wommack's aggressive "swarm" defense against Stein/Joe Sloan's offense. Kentucky wants to get the ball out of the QB's hands fast with dinks and dunks at or behind the line of scrimmage. Alabama's defense blows plays like that up with their physical, downhill secondary.
Then, there's Keelon Russell and the Alabama aerial attack that should be able to find some plays down the field against a leaky Kentucky secondary that allowed Youngstown State to find considerable success through the air. If Alabama can stay balanced with at least a semi-effective run game, it should open things up for Russell and the passing attack to hit some big plays.
Stein is a good coach, and it won't be long before he has things rolling in Lexington. But it's not happening today.
Picks:
John Mitchell: Alabama 33, Kentucky 14
Ron Evans: Alabama 24, Kentucky 17
Trevion Ware: Alabama 34, Kentucky 17
Jaleel Grandberry: Alabama 42, Kentucky 10
Dominic Giacobazzi: Alabama 35, Kentucky 17
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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