No. 18 Kentucky at No. 5 Vanderbilt: Preview and Friday Night Open Thread

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY SportsVanderbilt is stuck in the middle of the SEC East, but a big showing against No. 18 Kentucky would push the Commodores back towards the top.

No. 5 Vanderbilt suffered its second series loss of the season when it dropped a pair of games in Baton Rouge. Can the Commodores get back on track when they face another ranked opponent at home?

This weekend's showdown with No. 18 Kentucky will be the team's fourth SEC series against a top 25 opponent. Vandy dispatched then-No. 5 South Carolina at home but has dropped weekend affairs against current No. 2 Mississippi State and No. 11 LSU to fade to the middle of the SEC East standings. At 7-5, the 'Dores are looking up at…