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FACTS & STATS: Site: LP Field (68,798) -- Nashville, Tennessee. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: WKU 0-0, Kentucky 0-0. Away Record: WKU 0-0, Kentucky 0-0. Neutral Record: WKU 0-0, Kentucky 0-0. Conference Record: WKU 0-0, Kentucky 0-0. Series Record: Kentucky leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Nashville's LP Field will play host to another installment in a young rivalry to open the 2011 season, as Western Kentucky and Kentucky clash Thursday night in the Music City.

Kentucky enters 2011 after going 6-7 and making a school-record fifth consecutive bowl appearance a year ago. Last season marked the first in head coach Joker Phillips' tenure, and the Wildcats were up and down. Phillips' squad struggled to get anything going during the SEC slate although there were some bright spots: a 31-28 win over South Carolina and a narrow 37-34 loss to Auburn on a last second field goal. The Wildcats lost suspended quarterback Mike Hartline for the BBVA Compass Bowl and were pounded 27-10 by Pitt, and now Phillips must find a way to make Kentucky more competitive down the stretch in SEC play, especially with the departures of Hartline, the top three rushers and the top two receivers from 2010.

WKU took steps in the right direction last year, snapping a 20-game losing streak with a midseason win over Louisiana. The reality is that the Hilltoppers are still one of the youngest programs in the FBS, and it could be a while until they snap the country's longest home losing streak at 15 games.

Kentucky leads the series 2-0, including last years 63-28 win in Lexington.

WKU's offense returns seven starters, including one of the Sun Belt's best players in senior running back Bobby Rainey (1,649 yards, 4.8 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns in 2010). Now all eyes are on Rainey to see if the senior can eclipse 2,000 yards rushing and to see if he can carry this offense like he did a year ago.

Junior quarterback Kawaun Jakes is a threat to run the football every time he takes the snap from under center, but his pass efficiency (51.2) must improve. Jakes threw for 1,680 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions a year ago, and those numbers should elevate in 2011 considering he has three of his top four receivers back.

The Hilltoppers' defensive unit finished first in total defense in the Sun Belt a year ago, giving up 349 yards per game, but the unit also struggled to get pressure (just 12 sacks).

New defensive coordinator Lance Guidry inherits eight starters from last season, including junior Quanterus Smith, who had 10.5 tackles for loss a year ago. Senior end Jared Clandenin will man the other end position for WKU, which has no starters returning to the linebacking corps, but has added former Miami Hurricane recruit and junior college transfer C.J. Odom to the mix.

The secondary returns four starters, including sophomore Tyree Robinson, who had two picks and seven pass breakups as a true freshman in 2010. Sophomore Arius Wright also started eight games as a true freshman corner, and a year of seasoning should have the duo prepared to take on SEC receivers on opening night.

Kentucky's offense was hit hard with departures in the offseason, but Phillips still groomed talent a year ago on a unit that finished fourth in the SEC in total offense. Sophomore quarterback Morgan Newton started in last year's bowl game after Hartline was suspended, and went 25-for-43, for 265 yards. Newton is a mobile quarterback who can freelance outside the pocket, and that's good news for Phillips as his young quarterback continues to learn the system in his second year.

The top two receivers from last year are gone, but La'Rod King will start after a solid 2010 (36 catches, 478 yards, five touchdowns), and sophomore tight end Jordan Aumiller will give Newton a safety valve. Aumiller started eight games and caught 18 balls a year ago.

The running backs have a stable of young players, but the one who emerges as the next feature back is still undetermined. Sophomore Raymond Sanders played as a true freshman, and Phillips has indicated during fall camp that CoShik Williams has been impressive and will get touches.

The UK defense returns six starters, and there is a lot of pressure on the unit to put up better numbers in 2010. The SEC's leading tackler is back in senior linebacker Danny Trevathan, who registered 144 tackles and 16 TFLs in 2010. That's key for a unit which also returns the team's third leading tackler 2010 in Ronnie Sneed (61 tackles).

The defensive line is retooling after three starters left after last season, but do return lineman Collins Ukwu, who made 13 starts a year ago. The secondary returns all four starters from last year, and add NFL prospect Winston Guy, who picked off three passes a year ago and is playing as a linebacker/safety hybrid for the Wildcats.

What will be interesting is seeing Newton make his second career start for Kentucky, which will learn to sink or swim with the sophomore quarterback this season. Expect Rainey to get his yards against the Wildcat defense, too. Matchup problems abound for the Hilltoppers however, in an exciting neutral site game. Western Kentucky could double its win total from a year ago, but the first one isn't going to come against the SEC-talent of Kentucky.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Kentucky 55, Western Kentucky 21