By Chris Duncan
The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Lately, Vanderbilt has been the perfect remedy for curing Kentucky's football misfortunes.

In 1999, the Wildcats rebounded from a last-second loss at Mississippi State and secured bowl eligibility with a 19-17 win over the Commodores.

Last season, Kentucky snapped a 15-game Southeastern Conference losing streak with a 56-30 victory in Nashville.

Now, more than ever, the Wildcats (6-4, 2-4 SEC) could use another morale-boosting win when they host Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6) this Saturday.

Last week, players and fans were already on the field celebrating an upset of No. 14 LSU when Devery Henderson caught a tipped 75-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Randall, giving the Tigers a shocking 33-30 win.

The locally coined "Immaculate Deflection" was replayed numerous times on national sports highlight shows. It was the subject of an online poll that compared it to the greatest finishes in college football history.

The Wildcats said they watched the replay once, in a team meeting Sunday, and are doing their best to put it behind them.

Easier said than done.

"I lost a lot of sleep. I'm sure everybody did. I just keep replaying it over and over in my head," said senior receiver Aaron Boone, who had three TD catches in the loss.

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson expects the play to motivate the Wildcats, not gnaw at them.

"It can be devastating or a rallying point. I think they are smart enough to handle it the right way," he said.

Kentucky coach Guy Morriss also promised the Wildcats will be fired up Saturday, but for a different reason.

Blue and white flags with the names and numbers of Kentucky's 20 seniors will fly above Commonwealth Stadium for their final home game, a program first.

Morriss said these seniors deserve special recognition because of what they've endured, most notably the unceremonious departure of Coach Hal Mumme and the subsequent NCAA investigation and sanctions that included a 1-year bowl ban.

"You get in that foxhole together, you get close," Morriss said. "They're going to look back and say, 'Hey, we were the group that laid the foundation to get this program turned around.' They've been dealt a lot, but they've handled it well. They'll look back and be proud of that."

The Wildcats' emotional state may not matter.

Kentucky is the SEC's highest scoring team, averaging 34 points per game, while Vanderbilt is the league's worst scoring defense, allowing 30 points per game.

Jared Lorenzen threw for 453 yards and a career-high six touchdown passes against the Commodores last season and he'll face an injury-riddled secondary this time.

Vandy cornerback Dominique Morris practiced this week following a knee sprain. Johnson was less confident about cornerbacks Cheron Thompson, who has an ankle sprain, and Aaron McWhorter, who has a back injury.

The Commodores held Florida quarterback Rex Grossman without a touchdown pass in a 21-17 loss last week, but Johnson is concerned how well Kentucky mixes the run with the pass.

Artose Pinner, the SEC's leading rusher, with 114 yards per game, can set a school record Saturday with his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season. He ran for 143 yards last week, the first runner in 12 games to top 100 yards against LSU, the nation's best defense.

"We're going to have to come up with a great plan," Johnson said. "When a quarterback sits back and throws the ball 50-plus times, you know what is coming. But when the running game is there it makes it tough to defend all of it."

The Wildcats aren't any better than Vanderbilt on defense, allowing a league-worst 421 yards per game. But Kentucky has also forced 20 turnovers and are plus-8 in turnover margin. Vanderbilt is a league-worst minus-12.

The Commodores have lost 15 straight SEC games dating to a 24-20 win over Kentucky in 2000. They've lost six of their last seven overall, but have won three of their last five games in Lexington.

"They're not always going to take the field as the most talented team athletically, but they've got their share of good athletes," Morriss said. "They've got enough people to beat us, that's for sure."

Vanderbilt-Kentucky

Site: Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Ky.

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. EDT Saturday.

Records: Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6 Southeastern Conference); Kentucky (6-4, 2-4 Southeastern Conference).

Series: Vanderbilt leads series 36-34-1.

Last meeting: Kentucky 56, Vanderbilt 30, Nov. 10, 2001, in Nashville, Tenn.

Coaches: Bobby Johnson (2-8, first season; 62-44, ninth season overall), Vanderbilt; Guy Morriss (8-13, second season; 8-13, second season overall), Kentucky.

Radio/Television: University of Kentucky Radio Network, with Tom Leach, Jeff Piecoro and Dick Gabriel; Vanderbilt University Radio Network, with Joe Fisher, John Gromos and Kevin Ingram; University of Kentucky Television Network (tape delayed), with Rob Bromley, Bill Ransdell and Drew Deener.