Sou. Miss.

at Florida

So. Carolina

Click on the teams below for Mark Story’s game-by-game predictions for the 2016 season

at Alabama

Georgia

Hope: With deposed UK offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson calling plays for the Eagles, there’s zero chance UK will get caught looking past a dangerous Conference USA foe. Nope: Dawson actually holds the stronger hand in this game, with standout senior quarterback, Nick Mullens, and six other starters from an offense that scored 40 or more points in seven games in 2015.

New Mexico

Austin Peay

at Louisville

Miss. State

Scope:

at Tennessee

Kentucky: 38So. Miss.: 34

at Missouri

Kentucky Crystal Ball

Vanderbilt

Hope: Though UK has been beaten 29 times in a row by UF, the Wildcats have lost to the Gators by a touchdown or less the past two seasons. Nope: After falling into a trough of “Muschamp-ian mediocrity,” the arc of the Gators’ program is headed up under the competent coaching of Jim McElwain.

Kentucky: 21Florida: 31

Hope: After going 7-5 in 2002, New Mexico State has not had a winning season since (36-122) — including 8-40 the past four seasons. Nope: Aggies head coach Doug Martin — the early-1980s-era Kentucky quarterback — could negate some of UK’s home-field advantage.

Kentucky: 55N. Mexico St.: 17

Hope: UK goes for its third straight win against the Gamecocks — who have only nine returning starters. New coach Will Muschamp, is looking for redemption after he was fired at Florida — a program with more advantages than South Carolina. Nope: UK has not beaten a non-Vanderbilt SEC foe three years in a row since Blanton Collier and crew bested Tennessee in 1957, ‘58 and ‘59.

Kentucky: 28So. Caroina: 21

Hope: Last time UK traveled to Tuscaloosa in 2008, the Cats put up a respectable fight before falling 17-14. Nope: Kentucky has never won on Alabama’s home field (0-9) and the presence of ex-Madison Southern star Damien Harris in the Bama backfield likely ensures the “Sabanic forces” will not look past UK.

Kentucky: 16Alabama: 34

Kentucky: 24Vanderbilt: 20

Hope: It took a coaching meltdown of epic proportions for Kentucky to lose on Vanderbilt’s home field last season. Nope: Vandy has beaten UK four of five and has more starters back (by 15 to 14) than Kentucky.

Kentucky: 31Mississippi St.: 30

Hope: A prime example of the dual-threat quarterbacks that give Kentucky fits, former MSU Cat-killer Dak Prescott is now on the payroll of the Dallas Cowboys. Nope: With a 7-0 mark vs. UK as MSU head man, Dan Mullen had the Wildcats’ number well before he had Prescott.

Kentucky: 16Missouri: 17

Hope: Kentucky beat Mizzou last season and the Tigers are going through a head coaching transition (from Gary Pinkel to Barry Odom) and have only 11 starters returning. Nope: Rich Brooks retired after going 3-1 in SEC road games in 2009; since then, UK’s record in conference contests away from Lexington is 1-23.

Hope: On the Georgia schedule, Kentucky falls between Bulldogs’ rivalry games with Florida (Oct. 29) and Auburn (Nov. 12). Nope: The Dawgs have outscored the Cats 149-51 in three meetings since Mark Stoops became UK coach.

Kentucky: 31Georgia: 42

Kentucky: 28Tennessee: 45

Hope: There’s always hope Kentucky will apply the time-tested measure for Big Blue success against UT — by playing a wide receiver at quarterback. Nope: A prime example of the dual-threat quarterbacks that give Kentucky fits, Cat-killer JoshuaDobbs has one more season in Knoxville to torment UK.

Kentucky: 69Austin Peay: 9

Hope: Since going 7-4 in 2008, the Governors are a combined 14-76 since, including 1-34 the past three seasons. Nope: Chaminade beat Virginia.

Hope: Though it’s lost five Governor’s Cup rivalry games in a row, Kentucky has led in the second half of the past two. Nope: A prime example of the dual-threat quarterbacks that give Kentucky fits, Cat-killer Lamar Jackson destroyed UK with his legs in 2015 -- and is widely expected to take a big step forward with his arm in 2016.

Kentucky: 30Louisville: 40

Still, caveat emptor: Five times in the past six seasons, my preseason prognostication for the number of wins amassed by Kentucky Wildcats football teams has proven too optimistic.

Cats finish 6-6 (3-5 SEC) and go bowling for the first time since the 2010 season.