No. 8 Missouri is inching their way to a SEC title and will be much closer once they beat Kentucky Saturday afternoon at 12 pm. 

Freshman quarterback Maty Mauk will attempt to help his team to another dominant performance against the Wildcats.

It could be his last start of the season, after filling in for the last three games for James Franklin, who is on the verge of returning from a sprained shoulder. 

Mauk threw three touchdown passes and ran for 114 yards in a 31-3 win against Tennessee. That victory helped Missouri (8-1, 4-1) remain just ahead of South Carolina in the SEC East after a 27-24 overtime loss to the Gamecocks on Oct. 26.

Coach Gary Pinkel is very  grateful that Mauk has done a "good job" for the team. 

"I think what has helped Maty without question is that up front we are playing really well. The offensive line that helps him, and having the receiving core intact allows him a greater shot of being successful," Pinkel said, according to ESPN.

Franklin was projected to miss three to five weeks after getting injured in a 41-26 win against No. 7 on Oct. 12. 

The Tigers will need more to win their final three games, but first they must get past Kentucky. 

"With the SEC, there is so little drop off in the talent in this league. Every team is good. I think this also applies to Kentucky," he said. "They are a good football team, and we are going to work very hard to play our best football game Saturday."

Live stream the game here:

Tags: Missouri Kentucky NCAA Football