SDS article: 4 winnable SEC games for UK next season

[Rhavicc]

Saturday Down South posted an article, ranking the 4 most winnable games for UK in the SEC next season. I tend to agree, and I feel very confident that we could win all of them.
Post what you guys thing below about this list.

1. Vanderbilt (Week 11): The Commodores lost their first seven SEC games last year by double figures, and finished the season 0-8 in the conference and 3-9 overall. Vandy has since changed coordinators on both sides of the ball, and it still lacks a proven commodity at quarterback. Derek Mason’s bunch won’t likely be as bad as they were a year ago, but it’s unlikely they’ll improve fast enough to close the gap with the rest of the SEC in 2015. There’s no such thing as an easy SEC win, but if UK can’t win this game it’s tough to picture Big Blue Nation bowling at season’s end.

2. Florida (Week 3): After last year’s triple-overtime thriller in the Swamp, Kentucky has to feel as though its on the cusp of finally snapping its 28-game skid against the Gators. Kentucky may enter the game with more experience at quarterback if Patrick Towles is named the starter again this fall, and UK will certainly have a better grasp of its Air Raid offense than Florida will have of Jim McElwain’s new system, especially in a game so early in the season. A stout Florida secondary may throw a wrench into that Air Raid offense, but Florida is still a team in transition. If there was ever a year for UK to take advantage, it’s this one.

3. at South Carolina (Week 2): Last year’s 7-6 regression has SEC fans wondering whether it was a brief dip for Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks after three straight 11-win seasons, or if it might signal the beginning of the end for the Head Ball Coach. UK will have plenty of say in whether South Carolina is still a prominent program or not when the two face in Week 2. Like Florida, South Carolina will be debuting a new starting quarterback, and UK will serve as that quarterback’s first career SEC opponent. Kentucky’s aggressive, blitz-prone defense may have a field day with the matchup. On the other side of the ball, South Carolina restocked last year’s pathetic defensive line, but if that talent can’t come together that quickly and that early in the season, Kentucky may torch the Cocks with the ground game again, led by Boom Williams and Jojo Kemp.

4. Missouri (Week 4): Tigers fans have every right to be furious with their team’s spot on this list. After all, Missouri is the two-time defending East champ and yet is rarely treated as such, with this serving as yet another example of that. But the Tigers quarterback, Maty Mauk, remains too turnover prone in his third year as a starter. He threw 13 picks last year, the second-most in the SEC, and he’s since lost his top-three wideouts and all-purpose back Marcus Murphy. If Kentucky can force a couple of turnovers in this game it absolutely has a chance to secure an upset win.

 

[Rhavicc]

I would like to add my own honorable mention.

5. Mississippi State: While they were the top ranked team in the country last season, UK gave them a very tough fight. Mississippi State loses 18 players that seen significant playing time, including a certain RB that UK struggled against mightily. This may be in Starkville, but I think the team can smell the blood in the water when it comes to Mississippi State, and they could potentially capitalize. It will be a tough game, but it may very well happen.

 

[wildcatbd21]

I honestly think Kentucky could go 3-1 in those 4 games. Call me crazy, but, if the offense comes out and is clicking from the start of the season, we could go 4-0 in them. Just have a feeling this team could be special.

 

[TBCat]

I'd swap Missouri and South Carolina on that list simply because the Missouri game is at home. I think we'll start beating really good teams at home before we start beating average teams on the road.

 

[Blueisbest]

I like our chances to win at least 3 out of 4 of those games.

If we don't beat Vandy we are a lot further behind schedule than everybody thought.

I think this might be our best chance to get Florida and end this horrible losing streak.

Missouri will be ripe for the picking. They will still be tough but, we get them in CWS, which should really help.

The Gamecocks will be ready to get some revenge over last season but it is not out of the realm of possibility that we can get them two years in a row if things go our way.

Tennessee could shape up to be an interesting game also. They are much improved over last season but, with the game being in Lexington, there is a decent chance to pull off the upset.

Auburn will have superior talent and will be heavily favored, but you never know.

Miss State and Georgia will be hard games to win but we have traditionally played both teams close in recent years.

4-4 is very achievable and if things go our way injury wise and break wise, we could conceivably have a shot at 5 SEC wins.

 

[wildcatbd21]

I like our chances to win at least 3 out of 4 of those games.

If we don't beat Vandy we are a lot further behind schedule than everybody thought.

I think this might be our best chance to get Florida and end this horrible losing streak.

Missouri will be ripe for the picking. They will still be tough but, we get them in CWS, which should really help.

The Gamecocks will be ready to get some revenge over last season but it is not out of the realm of possibility that we can get them two years in a row if things go our way.

Tennessee could shape up to be an interesting game also. They are much improved over last season but, with the game being in Lexington, there is a decent chance to pull off the upset.

Auburn will have superior talent and will be heavily favored, but you never know.

Miss State and Georgia will be hard games to win but we have traditionally played both teams close in recent years.

4-4 is very achievable and if things go our way injury wise and break wise, we could conceivably have a shot at 5 SEC wins.

Well put. I think Auburn and UGA are the only games I think we are going to be noticeably less talented. MSU and Tenn will be tough to win. The other 4 are very winnable to should win games. I look for 3-5 at worst in conference.

 

[southindycat]

This seems sensible enough. The writer took care to avoid going out on a limb. I think I might be willing to regard some other teams as similar company by October. It is hard to see us beating anyone who took us to the shed last season. Only MSU really looks like another early possible for this list to me. Worrying about anyone else as a possible SEC win depends on how much we really have picked up our game.

 

[WildCard]

This is an easy list for most anyone to compile (i.e., 4 most "winnable" SEC games for UK). The Cats could win all 4 of those games but will likely be favored only against Vandy.

Vandy: To this day, I do not know how Franklin was able to do what he did. Regardless, Vandy has returned to being Vandy.

FL: Gators were not short on player talent the past few years; just coaching talent. Now they have a new coach.

USCjr: A win here may well make TOBC seriously consider retirement. But the Cats last won in Columbia in 1999...when Lou Hollz's first team went 0-11. Coming off a "coaching facilitated" loss last year I just don't think TOBC loses this one at home.

Mizzou: IMO, THE key game to a successful season. Cats will likely be 1-2 going into this one and don't want to come out of it 1-3. They would likely split the next 2 and go into the second half of the season 2-4. Mizzou will come to town with a 3-0 record over some easy OOC competition (but a league leading 8 game road win streak). It will be their first "real" game of the season and, win or lose, the Cats will have 2 tough ones under their belt. Right now, I just don't know what to make of this one other than I think it is a very important game for the Cats.

Peace

 

[Rhavicc]

This is an easy list for most anyone to compile (i.e., 4 most "winnable" SEC games for UK). The Cats could win all 4 of those games but will likely be favored only against Vandy.

Vandy: To this day, I do not know how Franklin was able to do what he did. Regardless, Vandy has returned to being Vandy.

FL: Gators were not short on player talent the past few years; just coaching talent. Now they have a new coach.

USCjr: A win here may well make TOBC seriously consider retirement. But the Cats last won in Columbia in 1999...when Lou Hollz's first team went 0-11. Coming off a "coaching facilitated" loss last year I just don't think TOBC loses this one at home.

Mizzou: IMO, THE key game to a successful season. Cats will likely be 1-2 going into this one and don't want to come out of it 1-3. They would likely split the next 2 and go into the second half of the season 2-4. Mizzou will come to town with a 3-0 record over some easy OOC competition (but a league leading 8 game road win streak). It will be their first "real" game of the season and, win or lose, the Cats will have 2 tough ones under their belt. Right now, I just don't know what to make of this one other than I think it is a very important game for the Cats.

Peace

Regarding Florida, they lost 7 offensive players, and bring in an offensive coach who has to teach a completely new system to a very young and inexperienced QB. He has his work cut out for him. UK racked up points against them, and they were a top 10 overall defense in the country last season, with what is likely the best defensive coach in the game. Not to mention this being at home, I wouldn't say that Florida will "likely" win this game.

And regarding USCjr., they lost their RB, and their QB. As of this spring, a lot of South Carolina writers felt that their defense did not improve much since last season. Getting them early in the season with more questions than they had last year benefits UK. Clowney isn't walking through that door.

Finally, regarding Mizzou, as Gary Pinkel always says, "those who win in November will be remembered", and that's when his teams go into full swing. For the first half of his seasons, they seem like a team that won't finish particularly strong. Thankfully, this is the 4th game of the season, they lose their defensive stars, and 2 very important offensive playmakers. I'm glad it's at home.

 

[fuzz77]

They are all winnable...that's why they play the games!

 

[Hoskins21]

They are all winnable...that's why they play the games!

Not for the money?

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

Actually @WildCard I don't believe Florida is anywhere near as talented as they usually are. They may have lots of stars beside their name but seems like a lot of their guys were a bit overrated. It's not like they overpowered us last year. Sure coaching helps but Florida's current predicament is about more than just coaching. I look for the Cats to finally end the streak this year.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Saturday Down South posted an article, ranking the 4 most winnable games for UK in the SEC next season. I tend to agree, and I feel very confident that we could win all of them.
Post what you guys thing below about this list.

1. Vanderbilt (Week 11): The Commodores lost their first seven SEC games last year by double figures, and finished the season 0-8 in the conference and 3-9 overall. Vandy has since changed coordinators on both sides of the ball, and it still lacks a proven commodity at quarterback. Derek Mason’s bunch won’t likely be as bad as they were a year ago, but it’s unlikely they’ll improve fast enough to close the gap with the rest of the SEC in 2015. There’s no such thing as an easy SEC win, but if UK can’t win this game it’s tough to picture Big Blue Nation bowling at season’s end.

2. Florida (Week 3): After last year’s triple-overtime thriller in the Swamp, Kentucky has to feel as though its on the cusp of finally snapping its 28-game skid against the Gators. Kentucky may enter the game with more experience at quarterback if Patrick Towles is named the starter again this fall, and UK will certainly have a better grasp of its Air Raid offense than Florida will have of Jim McElwain’s new system, especially in a game so early in the season. A stout Florida secondary may throw a wrench into that Air Raid offense, but Florida is still a team in transition. If there was ever a year for UK to take advantage, it’s this one.

3. at South Carolina (Week 2): Last year’s 7-6 regression has SEC fans wondering whether it was a brief dip for Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks after three straight 11-win seasons, or if it might signal the beginning of the end for the Head Ball Coach. UK will have plenty of say in whether South Carolina is still a prominent program or not when the two face in Week 2. Like Florida, South Carolina will be debuting a new starting quarterback, and UK will serve as that quarterback’s first career SEC opponent. Kentucky’s aggressive, blitz-prone defense may have a field day with the matchup. On the other side of the ball, South Carolina restocked last year’s pathetic defensive line, but if that talent can’t come together that quickly and that early in the season, Kentucky may torch the Cocks with the ground game again, led by Boom Williams and Jojo Kemp.

4. Missouri (Week 4): Tigers fans have every right to be furious with their team’s spot on this list. After all, Missouri is the two-time defending East champ and yet is rarely treated as such, with this serving as yet another example of that. But the Tigers quarterback, Maty Mauk, remains too turnover prone in his third year as a starter. He threw 13 picks last year, the second-most in the SEC, and he’s since lost his top-three wideouts and all-purpose back Marcus Murphy. If Kentucky can force a couple of turnovers in this game it absolutely has a chance to secure an upset win.

I agree with 3 of those teams, Pinkel has made a believer out of me, he lost stars from the 13 team and replaced them with people who might have been better when people were picking them for a huge dropoff. They have a good RB, an experienced qb and their WR won't be any less experienced than they were last year because they had to replace all of them. They will replace the OL they lost with redshirt upperclassmen and be a good OL unit. Instead, I would put MSST on that list, they lost something like 20 of 21 starters and much of their second units, gone is the little bowling ball RB, that big WR and most of their OL. They return Dac, but not much else and his passing is questionable at best, he is a TE playing qb. Defensively they return 1 DL, a LB and not much else. They weren't near as good as their record last year with all those 5th year guys. I think they struggle to be bowl eligible and will be last in the West, quite possibly winless in their division.

Florida is very talented defensively at all 3 levels, but they have an entire new defensive staff too, will the new system work for them is the big question. Offensively they are talented at the skill positions, Harris isn't much of a passer but is a threat to run the ball every snap, the other qb they RS was one of the top rated qb in the country his sr year, they have Florida athletes at WR so they will be able to run, but their OL is a mess, they didn't have enough to even practice with in the spring and will have to depend on true frosh for depth and maybe to start. UK will have an experience edge and playing at home, I think UK ends the streak.

SC, who knows what you are going to get, you have them very early, SOS may be embarassed about giving up a 2 TD lead in the forth and getting beat. If he spends all spring and summer planning for UK it could be trouble for UK, but he usually spends that time preparing for us(UGA), see the A&M game last year in the opener. Game could go either way, just depends on what SC has done in the off season. But that stadium will be loud, especially with the UK win last year, will remind you of LSU.

Vandy, I couldn't believe how bad they fell off, will new coordinatiors make a big difference, maybe down the road but don't think so this year, UK wins pretty easy I think.

UT is going to be a force in the conference, 3 very talented classes in a row signed by UT, A qb who has to be accounted for every play and a back who probably starts ahead of Hurd, at least he should. OL has a year of experience, they will be a handful this year with Dobbs. Defense loses a couple of guys but no one who is a real star and they can replace them. UK will have a tough time winning this one.

 

[Dakota25]

I agree with that list. As I mentioned before getting Florida and South Carolina early in the year is an advantage from an experience stand point. Kentucky does need to win at least one of three against Florida, South Carolina, and Missouri.

 

[hmt5000]

Missouri lost to Indiana last year but they won the east again. So they are beatable with a passing attack and capable of beating almost anyone too.

I like our chances but I just can't predict it for us til we actually do the deed.... same with Florida

 

[Caveman Catfan]

I think UT is going to win the East this year.

 

[ukgrad2004]

I will throw in my two cents: If we can't win at least one against SC/UF/Mizzou, our bowl chances will be moribund.

 

[WildCard]

Actually @WildCard...They may have lots of stars beside their name but seems like a lot of their guys were a bit overrated...

Or a bit under coached. Bad coaching can make good players look overrated.

That said, FL has had troubles recently at the most important single position on the field...QB. I don't want to go all jauk here but, over the past 5 classes, FL has landed 61 four or five star players. Their worst ranking was #23 (last year when staff was transitioning) when the managed to bring in only 7 highly touted players. I don't know how many of those guys are still with the team but when you recruit that many high end players you have a lot of margin in terms of "truly overrated" players.

You can't play it much closer than what UK did last year but it remains to be seen if that was a sign of things to come or merely an aberration in what has been a very painful series. Regardless, sooner or later, the streak ends. Why not this year?

Peace

 

[jte123]

What was the last season UK won 4 SEC games?

 

[hangin#8]

What was the last season UK won 4 SEC games?

I think 2006. I know we did it once when Brooks was here.

 

[TBCat]

Or a bit under coached. Bad coaching can make good players look overrated.

That said, FL has had troubles recently at the most important single position on the field...QB. I don't want to go all jauk here but, over the past 5 classes, FL has landed 61 four or five star players. Their worst ranking was #23 (last year when staff was transitioning) when the managed to bring in only 7 highly touted players. I don't know how many of those guys are still with the team but when you recruit that many high end players you have a lot of margin in terms of "truly overrated" players.

You can't play it much closer than what UK did last year but it remains to be seen if that was a sign of things to come or merely an aberration in what has been a very painful series. Regardless, sooner or later, the streak ends. Why not this year?

Peace

Their QB play is the key here. It is by far the most important position on the field. A bad QB can bring your talent level down quickly. Nobody should be deluded into believing UK is more talented than Florida. We can still win the game because we have better QB play.

 

[BlueTick2]

So many times before the season starts I let my excitement get the best of me.

This year I'm going to take it one game at a time.
But 3 SEC wins would be huge.
Until otherwise, we are undefeated!!!!!!!

 

[PowellVolz]

I think you all get Florida this year. Down or not a win over UF is still a win over UF.

 

[Rhavicc]

I think you all get Florida this year. Down or not a win over UF is still a win over UF.

Finally, I'm on board with this. I figured last season was possible, and it was. Probably a missed delay of game call away from winning in the swamp. Now I'm very, very confident that we beat them at home this season. Considering everything they lost offensively, bringing in an offensive coach, working with a very, very young QB, losing very important defensive players, and transitioning to a new system, while also considering that just today, Stoops said that UK will be "significantly better" in the fall than they were the first 2 seasons. I just feel like we get the win over them.

 

[ukgrad2004]

It was indeed 2006 that we won 4 SEC games. Ole Miss, MSU, Vandy, and Georgia. Had a chance to beat UT at the end as well.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I think UT is going to win the East this year.

As long as Dobbs is healthy they could win the East, lots of support from some writers, but the money in Vegas says no. Dobbs isn't a great passer, but you have to account for his running which leaves his WR getting a lot of 1 on 1 coverage and they are very good, maybe the top crop in the conference. Hopefully our rush guys are quick enough to contain him and fast enough to catch him when he rolls out. Their OL is again the weakness of their offense, experienced but still young andweren't very good last year. Defense will be solid with a top line rusher and good LB play. But they have Willie Martinez and John Janceck DCing and both are pretty bad.