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Three keys to the game: Kentucky

© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

In what should have been Florida’s final home game of the season, Kentucky (3-5) travels to Gainesville to take on the No. 6 Gators (6-1).

The Wildcats will look to upset UF Saturday at noon on ESPN and win their second straight trip to the Swamp.

Here are three keys to the game.

1. Stop the run

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The Wildcats have a talented tandem at tailback in Asim Rose Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr., who leads the team in rushing yards and has helped make Kentucky’s offense the fourth best rushing attack in the league. Rodriguez has tallied six touchdowns and 562 yards, including three 100-yard games this season, while Rose has 359 yards and a score.

The Gators come in at No. 7 in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing just over 140 yards per game. They will have to shut down Kentucky’s ground game on Saturday and force Terry Wilson to beat them with his arm. Wilson ranks second to last in the SEC in passing yards (832) with just six passing touchdowns.

2. Trask vs. UK secondary

Florida has the league’s top-ranked passing offense with Heisman Trophy candidate Kyle Trask, who tops the SEC with 2,554 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. The Wildcats boast the best passing defense in the SEC, so something’s gotta give on Saturday.

Kentucky’s secondary was able to hold Alabama’s Mac Jones to a season-low in passing yards (230) and completion percentage (66.7), while managing to intercept him for just the third time this season. Can UK end Trask's streak of five-straight 300-yard games?

3. Convert in the red zone

In addition to passing offense, Florida also ranks first in the SEC in red-zone conversions. The Gators have scored on 34 of their 35 trips (97.1 percent), including 27 touchdowns.

The Wildcats rank No. 2 in the SEC in opponent red-zone conversions, allowing offenses to score just 73.5 percent of the time. However, they’ve given up the third-most touchdowns inside the 20-yard line (23). UF will have to capitalize on red-zone possessions against this defense.

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