How Will University of Kentucky Football Fare in the SEC?

It’s been rough sledding for Kentucky football in the SEC over the last decade. Head coach Mark Stoops has taken them out of the conference’s cellar, but the Wildcats still have just two winning seasons in the SEC since 2012. That reality and the departure of quarterback Will Levis make for a bleak 2025 outlook, and odds from top operators put the Wildcats at +10000 to win the SEC Championship Game — fourth-worst in the SEC. While local fans won't be able to bet just yet, they will when Kentucky sports betting apps launch Sept. 28.

Question Marks Abound on Kentucky Offense in a Deep SEC

Though he disappointed in his final season in Lexington, Levis was still a standout leading the Wildcats offense. He’s now with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans after being drafted in the second round. North Carolina State transfer Devin Leary will look to fill his shoes. The wide receiver corps is one of the conference’s most underrated, and Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis should fare well behind an improving offensive line. Because of that, prognosticators with the top sports betting apps will likely be setting high points totals for games featuring Kentucky’s offense.

There’s hope under Stoops, but the SEC is once again flooded with elite talent. Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee will all begin the season in the top 25, with Georgia, Alabama and LSU expected to be in the top 10. The best online sportsbooks have Georgia and Alabama first and second on national-title odds lists.

While the SEC West may be the more top-heavy of the two divisions, Kentucky’s path to the SEC Championship Game means dethroning two-time defending conference and national champion Georgia and hoping that Tennessee doesn’t mirror last season’s resurgence. The Volunteers are at +4500 to win the SEC East. Even the most confident Kentucky fan looking to use the best sportsbook promo codes to open accounts and place their first bets knows they might be better off looking elsewhere for potential winning odds.

Kentucky Bettors Can Begin Betting Early in the SEC Season

There will be Kentucky sportsbook promos in late September when the Bluegrass State launches online sports betting Sept. 28, just two days before the Wildcats’ SEC home opener against Florida. In-person sports betting launches Sept. 7 but promos are only available through these online apps. There may be special preregistration offers coming soon, but below are the flagship offers we expect from some of the top operators. Kentucky fans right across the border in Ohio can already access Ohio sportsbook promos.

Two of the top operators that will launch prior to kickoff at Kroger Field include Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky and BetMGM Kentucky. The Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky promo code USATODAYFULL likely will unlock first-bet insurance up to $1,250 as well as 1,000 Tier Credits and 1,000 Rewards Credits for all new players. If your first bet loses, you’ll receive a single matching bonus bet back in the amount of your wager, up to $1,250.

The BetMGM Kentucky bonus code USATODAY should unlock a first-bet offer up to $1,000 for Kentucky football fans. Win cash profit on your first wager or, if it loses, receive matching bonus bets equal to the amount you wagered. You’ll get five bonus bets back, each worth 20% of your original wager, up to $1,000, if your first bet was for $50 or more. You’ll get a single bonus bet back for the amount of your first wager if it was for less than $50.

Whichever direction you want to go with your betting, Kentucky football should provide plenty of excitement in 2025.