Kentucky Crystal Ball: Predicting every game for 2024
Let's take a look at Kentucky's 2024 outlook.
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I'm OK with this except for losing to USC Jr. It would also be nice to get one big upset...
SDS Prediction for our season
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I'm OK with this except for losing to USC Jr. It would also be nice to get one big upset...
I'm not ok with a third straight 7-5/3-5 season. I've been a pretty big Stoops supporter over the years, but 3 years in a row of that and it's time to move on (although I know it wouldn't happen). Honestly, I'd rather us have a couple of bad seasons (4-8 type seasons) to move on to a different coach than to just sit in 7-5 mediocrity.
Last year was a huge missed opportunity. Had we gone 9-3, which was doable, or 8-4, 7-5 would be more acceptable this year.
Winning >7 games this season with the schedule we have is gonna be tough. We play, what, 8 or 9 preseason top 25 teams? I mean, yeah, I get it. We all want 8+ wins consistently. But, that's a tall order to win that many this year against what will be one of the toughest schedules in the country. Especially considering breaking in a new OC, a new QB, several new RBs, a secondary that is unproven thus far, at least 2 new starters on the OL, etc. Not saying it can't happen, just that it would be somewhat surprising if all the above proved to be just fine and we won the games we should, all/most of the tossup and at least one big upset.
However, I don't get the love for USCjr. They've become the UofL of the SEC - preseason love, actual season mediocrity. Yes, they've beaten us recently but, on paper, I think we're superior to them this year. It's not a 'gimme' game by any means and we can't take them lightly, but I believe that would be an upset if they win.
We play 4 teams in the preseason top 25. Last year, we played 5 teams that finished the season in the top 25. The year before, we played 4 teams that finished the season in the top 25. Our schedule this year is very comparable to our schedule last year, but actually set up much better.
I just cannot get on board with 7-5 seasons over and over again.
Cannot lose to South Carolina.Just CANT.. Its a season killer. If we ever to hope to get anywhere near the top of the conference we cannot lose to them.
We fumbled the game away to USCjr last year and lost without our QB the year before but their fans think they have "passed us".
Time to give them a reality check.
Time to give them a reality check.
May have to get used to it n NIL era. If it goes to 9 sec games may see 6 and 6 some seasons. I'd like to win big here too but I'm also a realist.
This is the best Kentucky squad that Stoops has had at Kentucky - when you consider the whole team and the coaching staff as well! I will not be shocked with another 10 season win personally. South Carolina will get a but stomping from us as well. We owe them and this group is going to lay the wood to them - think of Florida last year!Kentucky Crystal Ball: Predicting every game for 2024
Let's take a look at Kentucky's 2024 outlook.
I'm OK with this except for losing to USC Jr. It would also be nice to get one big upset...
Go Big Blue!
I’d love for that to happen but Stoops doesn’t lay the wood to anyone. He gets up on teams and then goes conservative.
I agree, but there are way too many voices that say “well, at least it’s slightly better than it used to be.” Heck, I turned on KSR a couple days ago and Jones was saying 6 wins should be celebrated because 14 years ago or whatever it was, Joker (the worst coach in UK football history) got blown out by Vandy. That’s the mindset we’re dealing with
Strange that have us losing at home to SC yet beating FL & AU.
The way things worked out with schedules not many easy schedules in SEC. Missouri has one that may not be as tough as the divisional schedule. Everyone else seemed to get a tougher one some how.
Missouri game may end up being our most important game when it all shakes out. They might be top 10 when we play.
Yeah, someone didn’t think that through. Lots of people I know are wanting Beamer gone, his love affair is over. I’m calling 8-4 this year with an outside shot at 9-3 if we can pull an upset at OM or UT, all depends on BV and the o-line.
At this point, I believe the only game they are underdogs in is the Bama game. I could be wrong but I don't believe UK plays Missouri in 24.
But I saw a bowl/Playoff projection by CBS I believe and they had Missouri missing the playoffs, 4 SEC teams with ATM being the surprise team over both Missouri and OM. As much money as OM spent on the portal ole Lane's welcome may get bumpy. Boosters don't spent as much h as the OM boosters to play in the Independence Bowl.
But all the talk and speculation is almost over, football season is here. HS football started in Georgia this week. Ironically where I live had bad storms come through about 7 Friday night and all games, 5 of them, were rescheduled for Sat, first time I can remember that happening.
Football is a random game. Won't predict evey game.
Hard to think we lose to South Carolina.
Not insane to see winning 2 out of 3 between South Carolina, Auburn, Florida on the road.
I'm more in the camp of 8 wins.
We do beat South Carolina
Win 2 out of 3 Auburn, at Florida, at Tennessee.
Hard to think we lose to South Carolina.
Not insane to see winning 2 out of 3 between South Carolina, Auburn, Florida on the road.
I'm more in the camp of 8 wins.
We do beat South Carolina
Win 2 out of 3 Auburn, at Florida, at Tennessee.
Um, this is football. The best team doesn't win every week and upsets happen. This is entirely plausible.
This is the game I picked for my Lexington visit this season. I believe we owe them one from the last visit they had here and it being a Saturday afternoon game should be fun.
Yea, I agree with most of the others above...it seems to me that we can't lose to South Carolina and expect to have a good season.
This game is similar to Mizzou game of 2021, Florida game last year, etc (early September game that potentially sets the tone of the entire season).
This game is similar to Mizzou game of 2021, Florida game last year, etc (early September game that potentially sets the tone of the entire season).
7-5 is a more than generous prediction from any unbiased source.
It will be a tough season if Brock and Chip are a little less than advertised.
The @Florida game will be tough.
They have a killer schedule where they are underdogs and that's why I can't see Napier surviving a home loss to UK.
I think they can Napier with a loss and let an interim run the gauntlet of Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and FSU.
Of course everyone is expecting big things this season, UGA, BAMA, Texas, and Missouri are expecting to be in playoffs, AU, UF, ATM, OU, Vols, UK are all feeling good about making the playoffs, AU and LSU think they have a shot. About the only teams not expecting to make it are Arky, Vandy, MSST and Carolina. I think UF struggles getting to a bowl and Billy is gone by mid season, UF Limps in at 4-8.
Goal needs to be to win 8. We have 4 REALLY tough games but we need to go into this season expecting to win the other 8. Florida isn't good, South Carolina is down, Auburn is down, Louisville we own. Not even entertaining the idea of losing to Southern Miss or Vandy or Ohio or Murray.
Road to a "good" season :
Cupcakes (4) - S. Miss / Vandy / Ohio U / Murray State
Must wins (3) - SC (@home) / Auburn (@home) / Louisville (@home)
That is 7 "good chance of happening" wins.
Possible upsets (2) - @ Florida / @ Ole Miss (will be very tough)
For sure losses (3) - Georgia / UT / Texas
Win the 7 we have a really good shot at winning, beat either UF / Ole Miss and 8-4 is POSSIBLE.
Lose 2/3 or all 3 of the "must wins" and both upset chances and the season goes off the rails, 5-7, 4-8 not out of the question.
So in short, WTF knows. The 3 games against USC / Auburn / Louisville are VERY important to UK making some noise. At WORST, they must win 2/3 of those. Good news is the 3 most important games needed to win are all at home. Bad news is, both of the possible upsets are on the road. How UK plays in road games will determine whether or not the season is considered good / average or bad.
Cupcakes (4) - S. Miss / Vandy / Ohio U / Murray State
Must wins (3) - SC (@home) / Auburn (@home) / Louisville (@home)
That is 7 "good chance of happening" wins.
Possible upsets (2) - @ Florida / @ Ole Miss (will be very tough)
For sure losses (3) - Georgia / UT / Texas
Win the 7 we have a really good shot at winning, beat either UF / Ole Miss and 8-4 is POSSIBLE.
Lose 2/3 or all 3 of the "must wins" and both upset chances and the season goes off the rails, 5-7, 4-8 not out of the question.
So in short, WTF knows. The 3 games against USC / Auburn / Louisville are VERY important to UK making some noise. At WORST, they must win 2/3 of those. Good news is the 3 most important games needed to win are all at home. Bad news is, both of the possible upsets are on the road. How UK plays in road games will determine whether or not the season is considered good / average or bad.
Think you may be under estimating AU. The hit the portal hard, maybe 4-5 starters and killed HS WR recruiting. Played us tough and lost to Bama on a 4th and 31 play. I think UK is better, but Freeze is elevating talent fast.
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Stoops has done a good job at UK, but he needs to not have a South Carolina or Missouri type of game from last season.
because we all know HS WR come out and dominate in college. Not. What did they LOSE from last year ? You fail to mention that ?
Auburn the last two years finished 6-7 and projected to win 6.7 games this year.
They have a really good RB, Jarquez Hunter, did add some WR's, BUT the QB struggles to get the playmakers the ball, doesn't do much good to have skill guys if the QB can't get them the ball. Best WR is a freshman. Payton Thorne the QB only completed 64% of his passes (101st in college FBS QB's).
Notable Portal signings: WR -KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Penn St. 73.7 grade /WR Robert Lewis (Georgia St. 73.5 grade) / S Jerrin Thompson (Texas 68.7 grade.
Notable Portal losses : S Donavon Kaufman (to NC State 70.5 grade) / WR JA Varrius Johnson (UCF 77.9 grade) / WR Jay Fair (USC 70.3 grade).
At best, they only replaced what they lost in the portal. 2 WR's and a safety. WR Johnson was the highest rated WR and they lost him and didn't sign anyone as highly ranked as him. So i wouldn't say they hit it HARD. More like came out even or worse.
They have a really good RB, Jarquez Hunter, did add some WR's, BUT the QB struggles to get the playmakers the ball, doesn't do much good to have skill guys if the QB can't get them the ball. Best WR is a freshman. Payton Thorne the QB only completed 64% of his passes (101st in college FBS QB's).
Notable Portal signings: WR -KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Penn St. 73.7 grade /WR Robert Lewis (Georgia St. 73.5 grade) / S Jerrin Thompson (Texas 68.7 grade.
Notable Portal losses : S Donavon Kaufman (to NC State 70.5 grade) / WR JA Varrius Johnson (UCF 77.9 grade) / WR Jay Fair (USC 70.3 grade).
At best, they only replaced what they lost in the portal. 2 WR's and a safety. WR Johnson was the highest rated WR and they lost him and didn't sign anyone as highly ranked as him. So i wouldn't say they hit it HARD. More like came out even or worse.
Last post Grumpy on the Auburn debate.
Auburn wins : None had a winning record.
UMASS
Cal (6-7) 14-10 score
Samford
Miss State (5-7)
Vandy (2-10)
Arkansas (4-8)
Losses : (bad losses)
NM State (CUSA) 31-10 - blown out by a CUSA team
LSU 48-18 - Never in it
Texas A&M (7-6) lost 27-10 to a equal team by over 2 TD's
Maryland lost 31-13, blown out.
Played Bama (Rivalry game), Ole Miss, and Georgia close. Unfortunately they wasn't playing horseshoes, still counts as a loss. Finished 6-7. They lost 5 players on defense to the NFL draft, other offensive and defensive players graduated that was not drafted.
Auburn wins : None had a winning record.
UMASS
Cal (6-7) 14-10 score
Samford
Miss State (5-7)
Vandy (2-10)
Arkansas (4-8)
Losses : (bad losses)
NM State (CUSA) 31-10 - blown out by a CUSA team
LSU 48-18 - Never in it
Texas A&M (7-6) lost 27-10 to a equal team by over 2 TD's
Maryland lost 31-13, blown out.
Played Bama (Rivalry game), Ole Miss, and Georgia close. Unfortunately they wasn't playing horseshoes, still counts as a loss. Finished 6-7. They lost 5 players on defense to the NFL draft, other offensive and defensive players graduated that was not drafted.
