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FACTS & STATS: Site: Vanderbilt Stadium (41,600) -- Nashville, Tennessee. Television: SEC Network. Home Record: Kentucky 3-3, Vanderbilt 4-2. Away Record: Kentucky 0-2, Vanderbilt 0-3. Neutral Record: Kentucky 1-0, Vanderbilt 0-0. Conference Record: Kentucky 1-4, Vanderbilt 1-5. Series Record: Kentucky leads, 41-38-4.

GAME NOTES: The Kentucky Wildcats and Vanderbilt Commodores continue their quest for bowl eligibility as they collide in Nashville this weekend.

Kentucky enters with a 4-5 record thanks to wins in two of the last three outings. The most recent victory came over SEC foe Ole Miss last Saturday by a 31-13 final, though the Wildcats are still just 1-4 against conference opponents. After this weekend's tilt, Kentucky has Georgia and Tennessee remaining on the schedule, and two wins are needed in these final three outings to earn bowl eligibility.

Vanderbilt also enters with a 4-5 mark, but the club has suffered defeats in five of the last six outings since a 3-0 start. Last weekend, the Commodores put forth a tremendous effort against Florida on the road, but the result was a 26-21 setback. James Franklin, the first-year head coach of the 'Dores, has three winnable games remaining, and it will be interesting to see if he can get his club to the postseason.

The Wildcats own a narrow 41-38-4 series advantage over the Commodores, which includes a 38-20 triumph in last year's meeting.

Generating offense has proven to be extremely problematic for Kentucky this season, as the squad is posting only 18.0 ppg and 280.4 total ypg. The Wildcats have been unable to run the ball with consistency, as they are averaging a modest 3.7 yards per rushing attempt. Very few big pass plays have been registered as well, explaining the teams average of 9.6 yards per completion. Maxwell Smith is expected to be under center this weekend, and he has thrown two touchdowns with two INTs in the six games he has played. L'Rod King is a standout at receiver, and while his total of 34 catches for 514 yards and seven TDs are impressive, the quarterback play has hindered him a bit.

Opponents are posting 25.8 ppg against Kentucky, which is allowing 391.2 total ypg. Foes have scored 26 offensive touchdowns against the 'Cats, 15 of which have been passing TDs. The fact that Kentucky is permitting 4.9 rushing ypc and 13.3 yards per completion suggests that there are major weaknesses against both means of attack.

Kentucky actually trailed Ole Miss by a 13-10 margin heading into the fourth quarter of last weekend's affair, but the Wildcats came on strong in the final stanza, outscoring the Rebels 20-0 to claim the win. Smith threw a pair of touchdowns in that comeback effort, including a 38-yard connection with King, and Coshik Williams scored the second of his two TDs on the ground. Defensively, Kentucky got the job done, permitting just on TD in the affair.

Switching focus to Vanderbilt, it is generating 24.8 ppg this season while gaining a modest 326.7 total ypg. Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of NFL star Aaron Rodgers, is the quarterback of the Commodores and has completed just 51.1 percent of his passes for 969 yards with as many interceptions (five) as TDs. Jordan Matthews is a player to watch at receiver, as he has racked up 23 catches for 438 yards and three scores. The best player on offense is tailback Zac Stacy, who has rushed for 756 yards and six TDs.

Foes are averaging 23.1 ppg and 340.6 total ypg against Vandy, which is permitting a mere 3.5 yards per rushing attempt. The pass defense is yielding 12.1 yards per completion, but the fact that the 'Dores have recorded 15 INTs is certainly impressive. The club has 18 sacks to its credit as well, but it is allowing opponents to make good on 41 percent of their third-down conversion attempts.

Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes against Florida, including a 26- yarder to Matthews. Rodgers also ran for a score in that affair and finished with 297 passing yards and no interceptions, a tremendous effort by the young signal caller on the road. Matthews posted 170 receiving yards on nine catches, but the Vanderbilt defense gave up three rushing scores and didn't play well overall.

In a game that figures to be close from start to finish, give a narrow edge to Vanderbilt. The Commodores have the obvious advantage of playing at home, and Rodgers figures to have derived some additional confidence from last week's affair.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vanderbilt 24, Kentucky 23