The Post Bye-Week Games Examined . . . .

[The-Hack]

At first glance, yeah, the 4-8 record under Stoops’ after bye-weeks looks frightening.

Dig a little deeper, though, and maybe it is closer to a wash than we think.

2023 . . . Georgia in Athens L . . . 13-51
2022 . . . UT in Knoxville L . . . . . . 6-44
2021 . . . State in Starkville L . . . . 17-31
2020 . . . Vandy in Lex. W . . . . . . . 38-35
2019 . . . . UT in Lexington L . . . . . . 13-7
2018 . . . . Vandy in Lexington W . . 14-7
2017 . . . . State in Starkville L . . . . 7-45
2016 . . . . State in Lexington W . . 40-38
2015 . . . . Auburn in Lex. (thur.) L . 27-30
2014 . . . . Vandy in Lex. W . . . . . . . . 17-7
2014 . . . . U of L in Louisville L . . . . 40-44
2013 . . . . State in Starkville L . . . . 22-28

Yep. A losing record.

But, we were prohibitive dogs in at least 7 of the 12, listed. We won only one where we were clearly the Dog: Mississippi State in 2016, via a last-second, game-winning field goal.

We played very competitively in 2013 at Starkville, at U of L in 2014, at home against Auburn in 2015, at home against UT in 2019.

We are 4-2 at home under Stoops after the bye week, with a critical win in 2016, one our most exciting wins in program history. UT had a good season in 2019

And we are 3-0 against Vandy after the bye-week, each a very competitive game at home.

Our two home losses after the bye-week came against UT in 2019 and Auburn in 2015, combined coming to a total of 9
points, well within the combined spread for those games.

We’ve had a couple of head-scratchers on the road against State, and by point spread against UT and Georgia on the road.

Hence, I see forsee a nail-biter at home, nipping Vandy, and being grateful it wasn’t Auburn or UF on the road after the bye!

 

[trueblujr2]

Well at least the Vandy trend is in the positive direction as ugly as the scores might have been.

 

[The-Hack]

Well at least the Vandy trend is in the positive direction as ugly as the scores might have been.

The 2018 game was affected by 40 mph wind gusts, as I recall. Neither team could pass the ball much. I think Terry Wilson had 28 yards passing, that game.

I think the numbers show that when at home, the Cats play about as usual after a bye week.

On the road, the bye-week has hurt us.