Bowl season is sadly winding down as the Kentucky Wildcats take on the Pittsburgh Panthers in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Hello and welcome, ladies and gentlemen to Bleacher Report’s coverage of the BBVA Compass Bowl. I’m Featured Columnist Lafe Peavler, and I will be bringing updates to you live from Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Kentucky has given plenty of big-time SEC teams scares this season. The Wildcats fought off No. 1 Auburn and ended up losing only by a field goal. It was Kentucky that brought No. 20 South Carolina back down to earth after the Gamecocks beat then-No. 1 Alabama. 

They’ve also had some disappointing losses to finish the season. Their regular season ended in defeat against Tennessee, but they won enough games to get bowl eligible. Wildcats’ first-year Head Coach Joker Phillips would like to use this  game to propel UK forward.

Pitt has had a hard time off the field since their last game of the season, just like they’ve had a hard time all season. The Panthers started at No. 15 in the preseason polls and didn’t waste much time in falling out of the top 25 after an ugly loss to Utah.

Pitt’s loss to West Virginia sealed former Head Coach Dave Wannstedt’s fate. He got the pink slip and former Miami (Ohio) Head Coach Mike Haywood got the tap to take Wannstedt’s place.

But Haywood’s tenure would be short-lived after he was arrested on domestic violence charges, and subsequently fired. Pitt has yet to name a new head coach, so they will be led by Interim Head Coach Phil Bennett in the meantime. 

Pitt desperately needs to shake off its off-the-field problems and play to win here in Birmingham. A loss here would mean a bad ending to a disappointing year.

If you have any questions, comments or just good old-fashioned smack talk, feel free to post your comments below. I will respond to them as I am able.

Also, feel free to follow the game on Twitter. My account is @MasterPeavler.

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