Why Kentucky’s win vs. Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl matters so much

Why Kentucky’s win vs. Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl matters so much 2019

                                                                               

Virginia Tech’s defense brings extra motivation to the game with legendary defensive coordinator Bud Foster set to coach his final game. With little need to focus on recruiting or look ahead to the spring roster, Foster had the luxury of spending most of the month coming up with a strategy to stop UK’s run-heavy offense with Lynn Bowden at quarterback.

                   No, it’s not the College Football Playoff, the Sugar Bowl or even the Citrus Bowl that it conquered almost exactly a year ago — but, for the University of Kentucky football program, every victory, especially those in front of a nationally televised audience, still matters a great deal.

   

Virginia Tech has won 25 consecutive games when limiting opponents to 17 points or fewer, something it did six times this season. The Hokies are 31-2 when holding opponents to 21 points or fewer since the start of the 2015 season.

Kentucky lags most of the Southeastern Conference in bowl wins, but jumped ahead of South Carolina with Tuesday’s outcome; the Gamecocks, who didn’t qualify for the postseason, are 9-14 all-time in bowl games. UK also ranks ahead of Vanderbilt, another 2019 non-qualifier who’s 4-4-1 all-time in the postseason.