Kentucky gets RB CJ Baxter back for Vanderbilt, but WR Nic Anderson is ruled out

Kentucky will have its leading rusher back for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt at Kroger Field, but it will be without one of its more productive receivers.

Running back CJ Baxter sat out last weekend's 21-13 win at Oklahoma and was removed from Thursday's SEC availability report, which means he is cleared to play, ESPN reported. The Texas transfer has 484 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season. Wide receiver Nic Anderson, who came to Lexington by way of Oklahoma and LSU, was moved from questionable to out. He ranks third on the team with 17 catches and 197 receiving yards.

The Wildcats had more names on the list. On3's Kentucky Sports Radio reported that Sam Greene was also downgraded to out after he and Anderson were both hurt in the Oklahoma game. Grant Grayton, Antwan Smith and Jaden Smith are out as well. Nose tackle Kalen Edwards, who missed last week, is off the report and available. Kentucky Sports Radio also reported that Baxter has been dealing with a hamstring injury.

Baxter dressed in Norman but did not play. Afterward, coach Will Stein said the staff was being careful not to aggravate the injury again. "I feel really confident in our plan to get him up to speed for the next game," Stein told reporters, according to A Sea of Blue. Kentucky has its bye the following week, so Anderson and Greene get an extra week to recover before the next game after this one.

Kentucky was picked 14th in the SEC preseason poll. In Stein's first season, the Wildcats are 6-1, ranked No. 12 by the Associated Press and tied for first in the conference.

What it means for Vanderbilt

Kentucky has won five straight since its only loss, 45-17 to Alabama, and the recent wins have been close. The Wildcats beat South Carolina and No. 10 LSU by one point each, then won at Oklahoma by eight. In that last game, the offense managed 21 points with Baxter out, its lowest total in any win this season. Kentucky is averaging about 32.7 points a game and allowing about 25.9, so getting its main ball carrier back should help an offense that has had little room for error lately.

Anderson's absence leaves less depth at receiver, but the market still makes Kentucky a clear favorite. On this site's board for the game, which tracks 11 venues, the Wildcats are favored by 10.5 points at Novig, priced at -106. Pinnacle has Vanderbilt at +11 (-109), the most generous number on the Commodores' side. On the moneyline, Kentucky is -400 at Novig. Vanderbilt is +388 there and +400 at theScore Bet, the best price available.

The total is 51.5 at Novig, -104 on the over and +102 on the under. Pinnacle has the highest number, with the under at 52.5 (-113). The venues mostly agree: the spread and the total each differ by no more than a point, and sportsbook hold runs from about 3.4% to 6.8% depending on the market. The game kicks off Saturday on SEC Network.