Kentucky might have thought LSU was No. 1 last year when the Tigers spanked the Wildcats 49-0.
"You can't play angry or worry about last year," Kentucky receiver Keenan Burton said. "You should always play with a chip on your shoulder no matter who you are playing or you probably are not ready to play.
"We probably do have something to prove against LSU. But we can't look at it like they beat us 49-0 last year and we have no chance. That's like a double negative. We have to look at it as something to give back to them."
UK's Burton not underestimating LSU
However, Burton wanted to make sure no one thought he was underestimating LSU's talent.
"LSU is a great team. They deserve to be No. 1 for sure. They are an awesome team," Burton said. "I don't want anybody to think I said they were a bad team or they will come in here and kill you."
Kentucky coach Rich Brooks certainly has been impressed with LSU. He joked that he had to "go to the bathroom to vomit" while watching LSU and Florida play because both were so talented.
"I just thought it was college football at the highest level. It was great game," Brooks said. "I am just hopeful we can be in the ballgame the second half and have an opportunity to do something special, because this is clearly an outstanding team we are playing. They had four No. 1s (NFL draft picks) last year and have not missed a beat. They are better now than when we played them last year."
'We have got to play physical'
So how does No. 17 Kentucky, which lost 38-23 at South Carolina, beat LSU?
"We have got to play physical," said sophomore linebacker Micah Johnson. "Anybody can get beat. What you can't do is make mistakes like we did at South Carolina.
"It might take just about a perfect game to win, but that's usually true. The team that doesn't make mistakes usually wins. They are a good team, but if we play physical and play smart, we can win."
Defensive tackle Corey Peters says the Cats must force more turnovers.
"We have to get them to put the ball on the ground and then we have to get it," Peters said. "We also have to put together a full game. Earlier this year we got away with making some mistakes and still winning. At South Carolina, our mistakes cost us. We can't have any lulls."
'Our line will be better'
Scott says the key will be protecting quarterback Andre Woodson, who threw an interception and fumbled twice last week when South Carolina kept pressure on him.
"Our line will be better. I guarantee that," Scott said. "We have to protect Andre to give him a chance to do the things he can do best. Last week we didn't do that."
Kentucky turned its season around - and probably saved Brooks' job - after last season's debacle at LSU. Brooks, though, warns beating LSU will not be any easier this year.
"Clearly we are better equipped to play against them than we were last year. We are a much better team than a year ago. But we have not seen a team yet this year that will give us the problems this one. This will be our biggest test of the year," Brooks said.
Injury update: Brooks said Monday that running backs Rafael Little (bruised thigh) and Alfonso Smith (ankle) are both questionable for the LSU game. Little is UK's leading rusher with 685 yards and has had five 100-yard games this season. ... Linebacker Johnny Williams (foot) also remains questionable. If he can't go, Sam Maxwell will start and be backed up by Mikhail Mabry.
