While you were opening presents on Christmas day, Northwestern was already in Nashville, preparing to meet Kentucky in the 20th Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.

This will be Northwestern’s first appearance in the Music City Bowl, but for Kentucky the trip to nearby Nashville is old hat. It will be a record fifth appearance for the “other Wildcats”, who are 2-2 all-time in the game.

Friday will mark just the second all-time meeting between these schools, but it’s been a while since the last one: Northwestern claimed a 7-0 win in Evanston in 1928.

Kentucky, coached by Mark Stoops, comes in with a 7-5 record (4-4 in the SEC). They finished third in the SEC East and claimed three wins over teams with winning records: Southern Mississippi (8-4), South Carolina (8-4) and Mizzou (7-5). Unlike Northwestern, which enters the contest on a seven-game winning streak, Kentucky comes in on a downswing, having lost their final two games and three of their last four.

WildcatReport breaks down the “other Wildcats” on offense, defense and special teams to let Northwestern fans know what to look for once the teams kick off at Nissan Stadium.

Key player: Running back Benny Snell Jr.

The skinny: There’s no secret for what Kentucky is going to try to do offensively: run the football. Snell is UK’s Justin Jackson. He was named first-team All-SEC after rushing for 1,318 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 109.8 yards per game. In the process, the sophomore became the first UK player in history to run for 1,000 yards in two seasons. Snell is big and fast, a 5-foot-11, 223-pounder who has both power and speed.

Snell is going to be critical to Kentucky’s success because their passing game is not very prolific. The Wildcats averaged 181.1 yards per game through the air, 99th in the nation, and threw for more than 230 yards just once all year, against Missouri.

Quarterback Stephen Johnson is somewhat of a game manager as a passer. He takes care of the football (10 TDs and just 4 INTs) and completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,048 yards (170.7 per game). However, he is a dual-threat guy who may be more dangerous with his feet (535 yards and 3 TDs) than with his arm.

Kentucky doesn’t really have a big downfield receiving threat. Star wide receiver Garrett Johnson, who has more than 2,000 career receiving yards, is more of a possession guy, with 46 catches for 500 yards and 2 TDs on the year. Lynn Bowden Jr., a freshman, is the burner of the group, but he caught only 15 passes for 210 yards on the season. Kentucky had nine receivers with double-digit catches but Johnson was the only one with more than 22.

What it means for NU: Kentucky’s offense is a good matchup for Northwestern’s defense. NU’s strength is stopping the run and they rank 10th in the nation after allowing just 111.3 yards per game. Northwestern has stopped more potent ground games than Kentucky’s this season, so NU’s game plan will be to contain Snell and make Johnson beat them through the air, while keeping him in the pocket so he can’t freelance and make plays when things break down.

Key player: Safety Mike Edwards

The skinny: Kentucky’s defense allowed 425.7 yards per game, ranking 89th in the nation. Their rushing defense at first glance seems impressive (162.2 yards per game), but a closer look at the numbers reveal a weakness. Five of Kentucky’s opponents ran for more than 200 yards against them, and in their final two games – against playoff-bound Georgia and Louisville – they allowed an alarming 727 yards and eight touchdowns.

Kentucky is worse against the pass. They allowed 263.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 112th in the nation. Six opponents broke the 300-yard mark against them.

Edwards, a versatile, athletic safety, led the Wildcats with 90 tackles and four interceptions. He is one of those dynamic defenders equally adept against the run or pass.

They also have “The Bliz Brothers”, defensive end Josh Allen and linebacker Denzil Ware. Allen was a second-team All-SEC pick after registering 58 tackles and a team-best 9.5 tackles for less and 7.0 sacks. Ware was right behind partner with 9.0 TFL and 6.5 sacks.

What it means for NU: Northwestern should be able to move the ball and put up some points against UK. As usual, the Cats will try to establish Jackson and a running game that was at its best at the end of the year. Kentucky will load up the box to stop the run, so if Northwestern can’t run the ball from the outset, quarterback Clayton Thorson should be able to make some plays in the passing game to loosen things up. The key to the passing game will be Northwestern’s tackles, who must keep Allen and Ware away from Thorson in the pocket.

Update: Stoops announced on Tuesday afternoon that Ware has been suspended for the Music City Bowl for a violation of team rules.

Key player: Kicker Austin MacGinnis

The skinny: If Kentucky has one edge in this matchup, it is on special teams. MacGinnis is a real weapon as a placekicker and a reason that Kentucky won four of six games decided by 7 or fewer points this season. He has both range (a long of 53 yards) and accuracy (19 of 22 inside 50 yards) and has hit game-winners under pressure during his career.

Kentucky also has Bowden, a dangerous return man who averaged 23.1 yards on 35 returns this season, with a long of 93 yards.

What it means for NU: If there was one trouble spot in Northwestern’s season-ending 42-7 dismantling of Illinois it was kickoff coverage. Illinois’ return man Dre Brown had 49- and 50-yard returns on consecutive kickoffs in that contest. Northwestern can’t let Bowden get loose like that because he has the explosiveness to take it to the end zone.