Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said that the Wildcats will be without two defensive regulars for the Tennessee game on Nov. 29. Starting free safety Marcus McClinton is out with a severe laceration on his quadriceps, while backup defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin will miss the game with a high ankle sprain. UK has an open date this week, with the junior varsity playing against Fork Union Military Academy Monday at noon at Commonwealth Stadium

The Chick-Fil-A Bowl will be in Commonwealth Stadium for the second straight week scouting the University of Kentucky. UK (6-4, 2-4 SEC) is already bowl eligible. Its opponent, Vanderbilt, needs one more win to become bowl eligible. The Chick-Fil-A Bowl pits an SEC team against a team for the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game kicks off a 7:30 on New Year’s Eve in the Georgia Dome and is televised by ESPN.

The Chick-Fil-A would seem to be a logical destination for the Wildcats if they could get at least one more win. The Wildcats haven’t appeared in the bowl game since 1993, when it was known as the Peach Bowl. Also, UK fans historically have traveled extremely well to Atlanta for the SEC Tournament.

University of Kentucky punter/kicker Tim Masthay is one of 13 finalists for the 2008 Wuerffel Trophy, a national award that honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement.

The award is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship, played six years in the National Football League and has received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans.

The finalists are:

— Tim Tebow, junior quarterback, Florida

— Austin Starr, senior place kicker, Indiana

— Mike Rivera, senior linebacker, Kansas

— Tim Masthay, senior kicker/special teams, Kentucky

— Quin Harris, senior linebacker, Louisiana Tech

— Chase Daniel, senior quarterback, Missouri

— Todd Peterson, senior wide receiver, Nebraska

— Justin Paysinger, senior center, San Jose State

— Graham Harrell, senior quarterback, Texas Tech

— Will Chambliss, senior offensive lineman, Troy

— Travis Dekker, senior tight end, USAF Academy

— Louie Sakoda, senior punter/place kicker, Utah

— Tim Hiller, junior quarterback, Western Michigan

The winner will be formally announced on December 9. Masthay is UK’s third finalist, joining Antoine Huffman (2005) and Jacob Tamme (2007). The 2008 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented to the winner at the All Sports Association’s 40^th Annual Awards Banquet on February 20, 2009.

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University of Kentucky recruit David Sims had a huge game for Calhoun County (S.C.) last week. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Sims ran for 253 yards and three TD’s, returned a interception for a TD, and passed for 200 yards and 4 TD’s in Calhoun County’s 63-14 win over Blacksburg 63-14.

UK might have to work to hold on to Sims, though. Sims told Jeff Drummond of the Cats’ Pause that while he remains committed to Kentucky, he plans on visiting North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

UK junior cornerback Trevard Lindley made it through practice without major problems on Tuesday and is expected to be available for Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt. Senior defensive tackle Myron Pryor missed practice after re-aggravating a high ankle sprain against Georgia and is listed as questionable to doubtful. Junior middle linebacker Micah Johnson, who became ill before the Georgia game, could not finish practice.

The University of Kentucky will have a junior-varsity game on Monday, Nov. 17 at Commonwealth Stadium against Fork Union Military Academy. Kickoff is set for noon.

UK sophomore running back Moncell Allen played at Fork Union for one season before enrolling at UK, and 2008 signee Donte Rumph currently plays for Fork Union.

The Wildcats have an open date next week before facing the University of Tennessee on Nov. 29.

UK recruit Morgan Newton will be at Commonwealth Stadium for the Georgia-UK game. Newton’s Carmel High team will face Harrison in an Indiana Class 4A sectional final matchup on Friday night.

Newton rushed for 96 yards on 12 carries while going 10-of-12 passing for 105 yards in Carmel’s 44-21 over Lafayette Jeff last week.

Kentucky’s other quarterback recruit, Texas’ Ryan Mossakowski, will also be at the Georgia game. Mossakowski is scheduled to undergo surgery next week to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

Collegefootballnews.com predicts a Georgia 23-10 win over Kentucky this weekend at Commonwealth Stadium. Click below for a complete breakdown of the prediction:

Georgia-UK prediction

A representative from the Outback Bowl will be at Saturday’s Georgia-UK game. The Outback Bowl will take place on New Year’s Day at 11 a.m. at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. The bowl pits the SEC against the Big Ten. The Chick-Fil-A Bowl will also be in attendance.