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Bob Stoops predicts winner between Mark Stoops and Kentucky vs Josh Heupel and Tennessee

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Oct 31, 2024 2:35 PM ET

Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops will likely be keeping a close eye on this weekend's matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Vols.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, as a player, helped deliver Stoops' only national championship of his coaching career (in 2000). Heupel later served as an assistant coach on Stoops' staff at Oklahoma (until Stoops fired Heupel after the 2014 season).

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, meanwhile, is Bob's brother.

Suffice it to say, Stoops has quite a few personal connections in this game.

Tennessee is favored by 16.5 points, which isn't a surprise considering Kentucky has looked bad lately, losing three games in a row after their upset win against Ole Miss in late September.

But despite the Vols being a big favorite, Bob Stoops is picking the Wildcats to win in Knoxville.

"Well I gotta take Kentucky," said Stoops on Thursday. "Because my brother is the coach there. So if you're betting, you better take that into consideration if you're taking my pick."

It sounds like even Bob knows that picking Kentucky this week isn't a wise move. But I don't think anyone expected Bob to make a different pick. A year ago, he also picked Kentucky to beat Tennessee. And the Vols ended up leaving Lexington with a win.

Stoops' loyalty to his family is admirable, but it seems like it leads to wrong predictions more often than not.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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