Weekend Mashup- Win Prediction Edition- 2/20/15

[JPFisher]

Greetings, Big Blue Brethren. Hope you all are making it through the snowmageddon. I wanted to post this early since a lot of people are expected to lose power this weekend. On that note, I'd like to ask that you all check on neighbors- especially if the ice knocks out electricity.

Without further ado, here's the Weekend Mashup- Win Prediction Edition.

Let's start out with our own boys in blue:
2014 Record: 5-7 (2-6 in the SEC)Bowl: N/ABest wins // worst losses: S.Car., Vandy // @ Florida*, @ UTMy thoughts: There should be no surprise that I put the two SEC wins as our best last season. Should also be no surprise that our little mishap at Florida which cost us bowl eligibility is with the losses. I picked a random blowout loss for the other. Many in the fan base, myself included, foolishly thought that we were past the days of blowouts. The depth said otherwise. We will see this year the real bulk of talent and first real taste at depth into this system via redshirts. The schedule sets up poorly for us this year and it will be up to us to take the horns and give it Hell. Home games are nice, but the bye week comes at a terrible time. We will again see our depth tested and our youngguns will be put to the test in a back-loaded SEC grind which includes Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee. I expect a lot of good games this season. If UK is to go to a bowl, I honestly believe that we MUST take advantage of the early part of our schedule. Areas that need improvement are all around. The lines and linebackers are the biggest worry of mine. We should have a great influx of talent, but how will they perform in a game?

*Bolded games are HOME, away games are underlined. All information should be read, respectively. Best/worst wins and losses are based on glancing at the schedule, not schedule strength or record.

September 5: The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
2014 Record: 9-4 (7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference)Bowl: R+L Carriers New Orleans bowl >Result: W 16-3Best wins // worst losses: @ Troy, Nevada State (Bowl) // @ Ole Miss, @ Boise State Prediction: UK wins handily.

September 12: The South Carolina Gamecocks
2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5 In the SEC) *Including a loss to Kentucky at CommonwealthBowl: Duck Commander Independence Bowl >Result: W 24-21Best wins // worst losses: UGA, @ Florida // @ UK, aTmPrediction: UK wins a close one. Spurrier will have revenge on the brain and will likely pull out a lot of stops to get his team the win. If Spurrier allows his ego to get the better of him, then UK will likely win again. If Spurrier recognizes that his team is not the pass-slinging behemoth he wants it to be and goes all-in with the run, then we might be in for a rough game. S.Car loses a lot of players to transfer. They will no longer have their starting QB. UK has a good opportunity to steal one away from a reeling S.Car. program. Close victory for the Cats if they can pull it out, which I think they can.

September 19: The Florida Gators
2014 Record: 7-5 (4-4 in the SEC) *Escaped with a win against UK on home field. UF's first game cancelled.Bowl: Birmingham Bowl >Result: W 28-20Best wins // worst losses: UGA, (Either the gift of UK or @ UT, Florida fans may take their pick) // MIZZOU, LSUPrediction: Win. By far my most hated team on this schedule and we catch them in a year where they are in between coaches, philosophies, and hopefully desperate for wins. We catch them early with their team that has come out very poorly to start the season in recent years while also under a new coach. This is quite honestly our best chance at a victory over UF that I can remember. We need to beat them. Stoops and the crew will have the team fired up and I think it will be a very enjoyable game.

September 26: The Missouri Tigers
2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1 in the SEC) *Beat UK in an absolute slug-fest.... lolBowl: SEC Championship Loss (42-13); BDubs Citrus Bowl win (33-17)Best Wins // worst losses: @ aTm, @ UT // Indiana Hoosiers, UGA
Prediction: Win. Again, a team we came just shy of beating last year. Brown really screwed the pooch with this perormance and called one of the worst offensive games I've ever witnessed up until about the 4th quarter. We will have improved and can likely match up better this year.

October 3: The Eastern Kentucky Colonels
2014 Record: 9-4 (6-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference) Go Racers!Bowl: N/ABest wins // worst losses: @ Austin Peay, @ UT Martin // STOMPED at Florida, Indiana State
Prediction: Win.

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SWEET SAVIOR ABOVE!!! A BYE WEEK!!!

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The second half of the schedule is where it begins to get dicey. I'll put that into next week's mashup. Hope you all enjoyed part one of the way too early predictions. Feel free to comment.

> The Combine is upon us, and it sounds like Bud and Heard may be the only two who get significant playing time in the NFL. You should not count out any of them, however. Big Z and Miller have been good to us in the SEC and I expect that to translate well into the NFL. You've earned this, guys! Show the world what you ll can do!!!

> Drake Jackson is absolutely firm to UK. I talked with his coach recently and was assured that UK is getting an absolute stud.

> I like UK's chances of flipping Austin Kendall.

> Cobb has made enough of a name for himself that he's asking for the big bucks. Killem, Randall!

> We have a little bit of a recruiting weekend here. Hopefully inclement weather doesn't shut it down.

That's all I've got this week, guys. A bit of a slow week, IMO. If I missed anything then be sure to let me know. Feel free to discuss whatever you want to as long as it's tasteful.

Stay safe, you all. From the sounds of it, we're in for another doosie of a week.

Stay warm, watch some Cats if you can, and drink a little bourbon if that's what makes you all happy! Have a great weekend and I'll see you next Sunday (hopefully).

This post was edited on 2/20 1:44 PM by JPFisher

 

[Rhavicc]

Is there a list of the recruits visiting this weekend? Also, hope you have a great weekend as well!

 

[JPFisher]

I haven't been able to find a list, but I'm sure it's on Twitter somewhere. Probably one of my follows, even. I've probably missed it by a mile. Lol

 

[wildcatbd21]

A 5 - 0 start looks very nice. My heart tells me you are right. But, my head tells me you are not. We have not won on the road in the SEC in a while, and have not beat Florida or Missouri in ages (Missouri since they joined the SEC). I'll believe it when I see it. This is the year where we can make all those things happen with how the early schedule starts off.

The first two games are the key. If we beat a good Louisiana team to start the year, and follow that up with an in conference win at USC, then we can ride the confidence of that strong start through the Florida and Missouri games.

Follow that up with what should be an easy win against EKU and an off week (basically two weeks of rest), and we should be set up nicely for the next portion of the schedule.

The next section of the schedule gets tough. Auburn, Miss. St., Georgia, and Tennessee will be a difficult stretch of games. Going 2 - 2 in that stretch will be a major accomplishment.

If we can get through that 4 game stretch relatively healthy, we set up nicely to finish the year strong. Road game at Vandy followed by home dates with Charlotte and Louisville to end the season. It is possible to end on a three game winning streak. Be nice to ride that momentum to a good bowl game and into strong recruiting to continue to build the program.

I know JP only went through the first 5 games of the season. and I was only going to comment on those. But, the thought of starting 5 - 0 got me pumped to look at the rest of the schedule and I just kept typing.

Excellent topic JPFisher!

 

[JPFisher]

We haven't won on the road in a while, but we played Florida and Louisville tough on their home fields last year. I have no doubt UK can meet the challenge.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by wildcatbd21:
A 5 - 0 start looks very nice. My heart tells me you are right. But, my head tells me you are not. We have not won on the road in the SEC in a while, and have not beat Florida or Missouri in ages (Missouri since they joined the SEC). I'll believe it when I see it. This is the year where we can make all those things happen with how the early schedule starts off.

The first two games are the key. If we beat a good Louisiana team to start the year, and follow that up with an in conference win at USC, then we can ride the confidence of that strong start through the Florida and Missouri games.

Follow that up with what should be an easy win against EKU and an off week (basically two weeks of rest), and we should be set up nicely for the next portion of the schedule.

The next section of the schedule gets tough. Auburn, Miss. St., Georgia, and Tennessee will be a difficult stretch of games. Going 2 - 2 in that stretch will be a major accomplishment.

If we can get through that 4 game stretch relatively healthy, we set up nicely to finish the year strong. Road game at Vandy followed by home dates with Charlotte and Louisville to end the season. It is possible to end on a three game winning streak. Be nice to ride that momentum to a good bowl game and into strong recruiting to continue to build the program.

I know JP only went through the first 5 games of the season. and I was only going to comment on those. But, the thought of starting 5 - 0 got me pumped to look at the rest of the schedule and I just kept typing.

Excellent topic JPFisher!

I am not near as worried about UT and MSU as you seem to be. The Cats have UT at CWS and MSU loses a lot off of a team that UK came near beating last year. IMO UK wins 7 or 8 games. I disagree with the poster that said this schedule does not set up well for the Cats. IMO it sets up better than last years schedule.

 

[JPFisher]

It sets up worse IMO because it again has a very back-loaded schedule. We'll have another schedule skid if we aren't careful.

 

[Rhavicc]

Originally posted by JPFisher:
It sets up worse IMO because it again has a very back-loaded schedule. We'll have another schedule skid if we aren't careful.

Well, only the first 3 games following our Bye week is a truly tough stretch. Things really ease up after that.

 

[JPFisher]

I mean they may not be the best teams, but the SEC is notorious for smash mouth ball and I just think our depth will be tested. Lose two starters on defense and we could be in big trouble again. Not saying we can't get through the grind, but it'll be tougher.

 

[UKani]

Originally posted by JPFisher:
It sets up worse IMO because it again has a very back-loaded schedule. We'll have another schedule skid if we aren't careful.

I think you look at this schedule and think it sets up worse because of the placement of the bye week. But you also have to look the projections of the teams as well. Last season (2014) was bad because not only did UK have a bye week in week 4 but they had to play the likes of an LSU team who is one of the best in the nation when playing at night on there home field, Miss State who was #1 in the nation, a good Missouri team, a Georgia team who actually had more talent than anyone in the SEC East and maybe the 2nd or 3rd most talent in the SEC but just underachieved, and then they played a Tennessee team who happened to find itself behind a really good QB who started out 3rd string. None of those teams were better than people thought in the preseason. I mean Miss State didn't end up #1 at the end of the season however Tennessee did win 1 or 2 more games than people thought.

Fast forward to this season (2015) UK will have faced USCjr, Florida, and Missouri while still being fresh. Last year UK didn't face Missouri while being fresh. They will follow that up with essentially 2 bye weeks because they should be able to play there depth against EKU which would rest your starters. After 2 weeks rest then you face Auburn and that is at home, what more can you ask for in that. The next week you face a Miss State team who literally is replacing there whole offense and majority of there defense who was rank like #108 in total defense. Yes its at Miss State but this is one of those times when Miss State will be one of the youngest teams in the nation and breaking in a lot of freshmen and redshirt freshmen. It may not be a blow out but it should be good enough to where you can play your depth and don't have to wear out the starters much...

So if you look at it till this point after the first 4 games of the 2015 season you then hit a bye week and 2 games where you don't have to play your starters as much. Only the Auburn game in that 4 week stretch you will be leaning heavily on your starters. After that you have the Tennessee game next, and while UK may lose that game its not going to be one where the players are tired. The Georgia game that is the next week is really when fatigue would be setting in on this group and we may lose that game. But then the following week you have Vandy and then Charlotte, those two weeks you are going to be like the Miss State and EKU week. The Charlotte week should be a week of rest for the starters really, they should come in fresh to finish the season against Louisville at home.... So it actually sets up nicely because of the strengths of the teams we face and when we face them.

 

[Blue Decade]

It is useless to worry about the schedule being backloaded. The schedule is backloaded for every SEC football team. Time to put on the big boy pants. Last summer, I predicted 5 wins on this board for our 2014 season. When the mass hysteria hit in September, I acknowledged the possibility of a breakout but I stuck with my 5 win prediction. We finished 5-7. In 2015, we will be better at every position on the field except defensive end. At some positions like receiver, secondary, and defensive tackle, we should be WAY better. If Boom stays healthy and Towles improves as much as quarterbacks normally improve between the sophomore and junior season, our offense will be WAY better this year. If Courtney Love is granted immediate eligibility and Elam is in better shape, our run defense will be WAY better. All along, I have been predicting 6-7 wins and a minor bowl game for 2015. I am sticking with that. Likely wins: LA-Lafayette, EKU, Vandy, Charlotte. Likely losses: South Carolina, Georgia. Too close to call yet: Florida, Missouri, Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Louisville. Beating Florida, Missouri, and Louisville at home in Lexington gives us a 7-5 season and a decent bowl bid. Even if we lose 1 of those games that we ought to win, I think the Mississippi State game is winnable on the road. This should be a better year.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by UKani:

Originally posted by JPFisher:
It sets up worse IMO because it again has a very back-loaded schedule. We'll have another schedule skid if we aren't careful.

I think you look at this schedule and think it sets up worse because of the placement of the bye week. But you also have to look the projections of the teams as well. Last season (2014) was bad because not only did UK have a bye week in week 4 but they had to play the likes of an LSU team who is one of the best in the nation when playing at night on there home field, Miss State who was #1 in the nation, a good Missouri team, a Georgia team who actually had more talent than anyone in the SEC East and maybe the 2nd or 3rd most talent in the SEC but just underachieved, and then they played a Tennessee team who happened to find itself behind a really good QB who started out 3rd string. None of those teams were better than people thought in the preseason. I mean Miss State didn't end up #1 at the end of the season however Tennessee did win 1 or 2 more games than people thought.

Fast forward to this season (2015) UK will have faced USCjr, Florida, and Missouri while still being fresh. Last year UK didn't face Missouri while being fresh. They will follow that up with essentially 2 bye weeks because they should be able to play there depth against EKU which would rest your starters. After 2 weeks rest then you face Auburn and that is at home, what more can you ask for in that. The next week you face a Miss State team who literally is replacing there whole offense and majority of there defense who was rank like #108 in total defense. Yes its at Miss State but this is one of those times when Miss State will be one of the youngest teams in the nation and breaking in a lot of freshmen and redshirt freshmen. It may not be a blow out but it should be good enough to where you can play your depth and don't have to wear out the starters much...

So if you look at it till this point after the first 4 games of the 2015 season you then hit a bye week and 2 games where you don't have to play your starters as much. Only the Auburn game in that 4 week stretch you will be leaning heavily on your starters. After that you have the Tennessee game next, and while UK may lose that game its not going to be one where the players are tired. The Georgia game that is the next week is really when fatigue would be setting in on this group and we may lose that game. But then the following week you have Vandy and then Charlotte, those two weeks you are going to be like the Miss State and EKU week. The Charlotte week should be a week of rest for the starters really, they should come in fresh to finish the season against Louisville at home.... So it actually sets up nicely because of the strengths of the teams we face and when we face them.

Great eval. as usual ANI. If I had to class this schedule I would say it is middle loaded. There is a great chance for wins to start the season and to end the season. I actually think there is a very good chance that UK could end the season on a 3 game win streak high note. I like a schedule where you have a chance at 3 or 4 wins to start the season, a chance of picking up 1 or 2 in the middle and a great chance of winning 3 to finish the season. IMO that is a season that sets up well and hopefully one where there is no long losing streaks. I can not think of many things worse for a teams spirit than a 6 game losing streak to end the season like we had last year.
This post was edited on 2/21 9:02 AM by C1180

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by wildcatbd21:
A 5 - 0 start looks very nice. My heart tells me you are right. But, my head tells me you are not. We have not won on the road in the SEC in a while, and have not beat Florida or Missouri in ages (Missouri since they joined the SEC). I'll believe it when I see it. This is the year where we can make all those things happen with how the early schedule starts off.

The first two games are the key. If we beat a good Louisiana team to start the year, and follow that up with an in conference win at USC, then we can ride the confidence of that strong start through the Florida and Missouri games.

Follow that up with what should be an easy win against EKU and an off week (basically two weeks of rest), and we should be set up nicely for the next portion of the schedule.

The next section of the schedule gets tough. Auburn, Miss. St., Georgia, and Tennessee will be a difficult stretch of games. Going 2 - 2 in that stretch will be a major accomplishment.

If we can get through that 4 game stretch relatively healthy, we set up nicely to finish the year strong. Road game at Vandy followed by home dates with Charlotte and Louisville to end the season. It is possible to end on a three game winning streak. Be nice to ride that momentum to a good bowl game and into strong recruiting to continue to build the program.

I know JP only went through the first 5 games of the season. and I was only going to comment on those. But, the thought of starting 5 - 0 got me pumped to look at the rest of the schedule and I just kept typing.

Excellent topic JPFisher!

I do not think a 5-0 start is likely because that would mean that UK had a 3 win SEC record to start the season but if it happens UK would have a very good shot at 8 or 9 wins. I am trying to remember when that UK last started the SEC 3-0.

 

[Blue Decade]

1977
This post was edited on 2/21 9:31 AM by Blue Decade

 

[Deeeefense]

I think this schedule sets up a little better than last year's for 3 reasons.

1. We play Auburn on a Thursday night which gives us two extra days to prep for Mississippi State
2. We catch Tennessee at home the week after they play their hated rival Alabama - let down situation
3. We catch Georgia between intense rival games with Florida and Auburn - sandwich situation

I also think playing the Cardinals at home will tip the scales enough in our favor to let us grab a win there.

Those are 4 teams that beat us last year that I think we can at least get a split with this year.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by Deeeefense:
I think this schedule sets up a little better than last year's for 3 reasons.

1. We play Auburn on a Thursday night which gives us two extra days to prep for Mississippi State
2. We catch Tennessee at home the week after they play their hated rival Alabama - let down situation
3. We catch Georgia between intense rival games with Florida and Auburn - sandwich situation

I also think playing the Cardinals at home will tip the scales enough in our favor to let us grab a win there.

Those are 4 teams that beat us last year that I think we can at least get a split with this year.

I can see a scenario where the Cats might even win three of the four.
The MSU game is on the road but they lost a lot off of last years team. The UT game is at CWS and the Cats owe them big time. UofL is at CWS and they lost a lot off last years team that just barely beat UK on their home field. Georgia IMO is the least likely of the four. They are tough to beat between the hedges. IMO the most likely of the four would be MSU and UofL.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

The La Laf game will be a win, but it could be closer than you want, they aren't a bad program for what they are.

SC will be a tough matchup for UK at WB, playing them there is a different animal 80k+ fans going nuts, especially if they are in the game. SOS has a tendency to spend all spring and fall getting ready for one opponent, usually UGA because we normally play them the 2nd game. They should be improved defensively, offensive will be the question, losing 4 OL, I think, qb, Davis at RB, a WR transferred. WIlds is more than capable at RB, but the qb will have pratically zero experience and breaking in a new OL. Look for Cooper to be in the Wildcat quite a bit. Should be a good game that can go either way.

UF, replacing entire coaching staff, several OL, a couple RB and maybe a qb on offense. Defensively they lose quite a bit, but were they had a very talented and deep defense, Muschamp didn't have issues recruiting defensive guys. They could be the best defense UK faces this fall. But they will be learning new systems on both sides of the ball, could be breaking in a new qb and UK gets them early and at home. Could be a low scoring game with 24 being enough for a win. I predicted a UK win last year, but with Driskel gone, whoever the qb is will be better than him, I am thinking another tight game.


Missouri was written off last year after losing quite a bit from the Eastern championship team, they repeated. Picket has a great system working for him, they just plug in a RS upper classman and don't lose much production. Mauk is a returning starting at qb, while inconsistent he can and has made big plays to win games. At this point predicting a UK win is going out on a shakey limb


EKU has a good team for what they are, but realistically that isn't enough to compete with an SEC team. Time to get everyone dressed.

Charlotte, see EKU.

I expect State to be down, way down, they lose most of their defensive front and their secondary just wasn't good. Offensively they lose Robinson, that big WR and most of their OL. Still have Prescott, but without that big OL how effective will his power running be, he is average at best passer. Overcome the cowbells and is UK's most likely SEC win outside of Vandy.

Vandy, fell off a huge amount last year, appears coach was in over his head, will likely be improved but not a great deal, UK win.

UT, Dobbs is a great running qb, an average passer, he made them much better last year, their OL will be a year older, they added a very good RB from JUCO who could start over Hurd and have some very good WR. They could be a real force offensively, especially if Dobbs becomes a better passer. Their defense will be a year older except at a couple of positions. UT will be a tough matchup for anyone in the East.

AU, their spread is a little different than most, its more a triple option run based offense. To beat them you have to stop or slow the dive play. They put the man in motion for speed sweep, run the dive either giving or keeping, if qb keeps he comes down line and either turns it up or throws to a guy in the flats or a deeper guy on a sideline route. Defense has to play disciplined and assignment ball, forcing the qb into bad decisions. Johnson, I think that's his name, is a better passer than Marshall, but not near the runner.

UGA, if not for starting a new qb this would be our best offense, maybe ever, return both TE, 4 OL starters and first 2 off bench, 1 starting WR and another who started in 13 alone with Chubb, Michel and Marshall at RB. With good qb play, either Ramsey or a RSFrosh, we will be very good offenively. Defensively will be 2nd year on Pruitt's system, return 3 very good LB, have to replace 2 ILB and 2 DL and a CB. CB is likely a JUCO who would have started last season if not for an injury in preseason practice, 1 DL position will be manned by a guy who played a good bit last year, the other is up for grabs, could go to a true frosh. ILB could be manned by 2 JR who played last year or one could be by a true frosh, the one who isn't signing a LOI. UGA will be a tough matchup for UK.

UL, their defense is likely to take a step backwards and without that WR, Parker I think is his name, they didn't have much offense. UK will make more noise in this game than the Cards fans want to hear.

 

[Blue Decade]

I have said all along that Kentucky will go 6-6 or 7-5 in 2015, then play in a minor bowl. Sticking with that.

Likely wins: LA-Lafayette, EKU, Vandy, Charlotte

Likely losses: South Carolina, Georgia

Games that determine the season for us:

Florida, in Lexington - pick em

Missouri, in Lexington - close, physical game but my spidy sense says UK wins this time

Auburn, in Lexington - slight advantage to Auburn

Mississippi State, in Starkville - pick em, MSU out of experienced players

Tennessee, in Lexington - slight advantage to Tennessee as long as Dobbs is healthy

Louisville, in Lexington - slight advantage to Kentucky this time, big game for Stoops

 

[robo222]

Originally posted by Blue Decade:
I have said all along that Kentucky will go 6-6 or 7-5 in 2015, then play in a minor bowl. Sticking with that.

Likely wins: LA-Lafayette, EKU, Vandy, Charlotte

Likely losses: South Carolina, Georgia

Games that determine the season for us:

Florida, in Lexington - pick em

Missouri, in Lexington - close, physical game but my spidy sense says UK wins this time

Auburn, in Lexington - slight advantage to Auburn

Mississippi State, in Starkville - pick em, MSU out of experienced players

Tennessee, in Lexington - slight advantage to Tennessee as long as Dobbs is healthy

Louisville, in Lexington - slight advantage to Kentucky this time, big game for Stoops

I don't even like picking wins in football but I think you put the focus in the right spots... A good win somewhere could put us in a great frame of mind... But I thought we were in that frame of mind last year and we just crawled back into our shell... A year of maturity could make a big difference ..... I hope.

 

[Blue Decade]

We did not crawl back in our shell last fall. We played 6 teams that were clearly better than we were, that were heavily favored over us by the Vegas books. If we crawled back in our shell, how was it that we came within 4 points of beating heavily favored Louisville in their own house in the final game?

 

[Mills_for_Three]

Double post. Apologies
This post was edited on 2/22 2:03 PM by Mills_for_Three

 

[Rhavicc]

Originally posted by Mills_for_Three:
Op made some good points. However, I don't agree with this being our best shot at the gaytors. Unfortunately, I think last year was probably the better opportunity, and we squandered that one.

Muschumps teams couldn't score, and IMO Mac will remedy that out of the gate. Unlike dawg (i usually agree with you) I think their defense regresses this season. MC may have been a poor head man, but the dude is probably

Coaches don't just come in, and remedy an offensive drought right out of the gate. Not to mention, he's losing a lot of players, and very good ones at that.
I think we beat Florida, simply put.

 

[Mills_for_Three]

Op made some good points. However, I don't agree with this being our best shot at the gaytors. Unfortunately, I think last year was probably the better opportunity, and we squandered that one. Muschumps teams just couldn't score. Looking at Macs record at Bama and Colorado State his offenses improved very quickly, and IMO Mac will remedy the offensive woahs out of the gate, and FU will be much more efficient on that side of the ball.

Unlike dawg,(i usually agree with you) I think their defense regresses this season. MC may have been a poor head man, but the dude is probably a distant second only to Saban in defense. As someone who has followed State the past 7 yrs Ive been here, I'm not sold on Collins as a high level DC. Switching from MC and Durkin to Collins will be an adjustment. IMO State improved by trading Collins for Diaz, who got a really bum deal at Texas.

The game I think will be more competitive than it probably should be is going to be UL-Lafayette, sorry they are always going to be Lafayette and not Louisiana to me. Hudspeth has their program really rolling in the Belt, but I thinkthe Cats will ultimately pull away by the 4th quarter.

If this team is going to be blown out this season, two games that stand out to me are the Auburn game and between the hedges. Auburns team speed is something I worry about the Cats being able to match, and their defense should be vastly improved by trading Johnson for MC.

And UGA, unless we are vastly improved at d line and backers, Chubb and the dawgs running game is just what others have said, a bad matchup for us. Even though the dawgs are replacing IMO, the SECs best QB coach Bobo, I'm assuming their QB play will be more consistent than last year, which makes loading the box to slow down the run that much more difficult.

Overall I think we step forward season coming up, but the rest of the league remains as consistent as ever. 6 wins and a bowl game need to happen or selling recruits on UK being an up and comer is going to be even tougher this year than last.

This post was edited on 2/22 1:51 PM by Mills_for_Three

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Originally posted by Mills_for_Three:
Op made some good points. However, I don't agree with this being our best shot at the gaytors. Unfortunately, I think last year was probably the better opportunity, and we squandered that one.

Muschumps teams couldn't score, and IMO Mac will remedy that out of the gate. Unlike dawg (i usually agree with you) I think their defense regresses this season. MC may have been a poor head man, but the dude is probably

You are right, I think they take a little step back, but even with that, they could still have the best defense in the East. Unlike many I don't think Muschamp is some defensive genius. Their secondary will likely have the best set of corners in the East, Hargraves is very good and the frosh who played opposite was a good one. Fowler will be hard to replace up front, but this last year was the only year their recruiting took a real hit defensively. Defensive talent is there, offensive talent is way down because no one wanted to play in their offense. Being from the Saban tree I guess they will run more of a power offense, but he may have run that offense because Saban told him to, I have no idea. Like UGA, UK has not just a monkey but a dang silverback gorilla on their back when it comes to UF. Maybe we both can shake him off this year.

 

[Mills_for_Three]

Originally posted by Rhavicc:

Originally posted by Mills_for_Three:
Op made some good points. However, I don't agree with this being our best shot at the gaytors. Unfortunately, I think last year was probably the better opportunity, and we squandered that one.

Muschumps teams couldn't score, and IMO Mac will remedy that out of the gate. Unlike dawg (i usually agree with you) I think their defense regresses this season. MC may have been a poor head man, but the dude is probably

Coaches don't just come in, and remedy an offensive drought right out of the gate. Not to mention, he's losing a lot of players, and very good ones at that.
I think we beat Florida, simply put.

Each their own man, but Mcelwains offenses have been very good. His first season at CSU he took a Joker level offense abd made it top 20. Good coaching can make huge differences, I guess Franklins first season was a fluke in Nashville. Until I see Schlarmans group be able to hold, much less open some gaps----I think it's a bit premature to be adding Florida to the same list as Vanderbilt. Again, my opinion.

 

[Mills_for_Three]

Originally posted by Grumpyolddawg:

Originally posted by Mills_for_Three:
Op made some good points. However, I don't agree with this being our best shot at the gaytors. Unfortunately, I think last year was probably the better opportunity, and we squandered that one.

Muschumps teams couldn't score, and IMO Mac will remedy that out of the gate. Unlike dawg (i usually agree with you) I think their defense regresses this season. MC may have been a poor head man, but the dude is probably

You are right, I think they take a little step back, but even with that, they could still have the best defense in the East. Unlike many I don't think Muschamp is some defensive genius. Their secondary will likely have the best set of corners in the East, Hargraves is very good and the frosh who played opposite was a good one. Fowler will be hard to replace up front, but this last year was the only year their recruiting took a real hit defensively. Defensive talent is there, offensive talent is way down because no one wanted to play in their offense. Being from the Saban tree I guess they will run more of a power offense, but he may have run that offense because Saban told him to, I have no idea. Like UGA, UK has not just a monkey but a dang silverback gorilla on their back when it comes to UF. Maybe we both can shake him off this year.

Not discounting the talent on D, I'm just skeptical of Collins. After you Dawgs got the better of States Co-DCs I've just not been impressed with Collins as the play caller.

 

[Poetax]

Originally posted by Blue Decade:
We did not crawl back in our shell last fall. We played 6 teams that were clearly better than we were, that were heavily favored over us by the Vegas books. If we crawled back in our shell, how was it that we came within 4 points of beating heavily favored Louisville in their own house in the final game?

I agree Blue, by the time we reached the seventh game we were running on empty. Not having a heavy experienced junior and senior starting roster put a lot of pressure on the true freshmen and sophomores. We did manage to bring it at ul but the change of QB for them put us in a different environment that we could never overcome.

 

[Blue Decade]

Originally posted by Mills_for_Three:

Overall I think we step forward season coming up, but the rest of the league remains as consistent as ever. 6 wins and a bowl game need to happen or selling recruits on UK being an up and comer is going to be even tougher this year than last.

I expect 6 or 7 wins and a bowl in 2015. We will be 1 of the most improved football teams in the SEC. Most of our key players are freshmen and sophomores, who should improve with another season of experience. Our team will be better at every position on the field except defensive end. MUCH better at some positions such as receiver, linebacker, and the secondary. With better receivers and a junior quarterback, we will score more points. With Elam getting an offseason of conditioning, and especially if Courtney Love is eligible, our run defense will be better. Although Bud and Z won't be easy to replace, I don't think the falloff at defensive end will be as severe as some people are predicting. Especially if Kengera Daniel and Alvonte Bell play well. I was a lot more realistic than most people here last season, but I am expecting 2015 to be a breakthrough year for Stoops' program. And Stoops already has a great head start on his 2016 class.

 

[jauk11]

Originally posted by Blue Decade:

Originally posted by Mills_for_Three:

Overall I think we step forward season coming up, but the rest of the league remains as consistent as ever. 6 wins and a bowl game need to happen or selling recruits on UK being an up and comer is going to be even tougher this year than last.

I expect 6 or 7 wins and a bowl in 2015. We will be 1 of the most improved football teams in the SEC. Most of our key players are freshmen and sophomores, who should improve with another season of experience. Our team will be better at every position on the field except defensive end. MUCH better at some positions such as receiver, linebacker, and the secondary. With better receivers and a junior quarterback, we will score more points. With Elam getting an offseason of conditioning, and especially if Courtney Love is eligible, our run defense will be better. Although Bud and Z won't be easy to replace, I don't think the falloff at defensive end will be as severe as some people are predicting. Especially if Kengera Daniel and Alvonte Bell play well. I was a lot more realistic than most people here last season, but I am expecting 2015 to be a breakthrough year for Stoops' program. And Stoops already has a great head start on his 2016 class.

Plus one, or maybe two, several excellent points.

 

[JHB4UK]

Like I said in the other thread, a whole bunch of you people here as well as the college football world in general is sleeping on the fact of how bad things are sliding down at South Carolina. have nobody at QB for next year. Have had about a dozen scholarship non-seniors leave the team this offseason/last Fall. Superior openly talking about him being at the end of his career, until their recruiting cratered and he halfheartedly backtracked.

UK wins 7 regular season games
ULL
USC
Florida
EKU
Vandy
Charlotte
UL

probably lose a couple of heartbreakers that we shoulda won, like Auburn & Miss St. Don't see anyone on the schedule who should blow us out save Georgia, we ought to be competitive going into the 4th in the other 11 games.

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

We probably won't beat Auburn but Commonwealth is going to be absolutely rocking that Thursday night and I will almost guarantee we don't get blown out. Probably lose by 7-10. A win would shake the foundation of the stadium, same with the Florida game.

I'm gonna stay conservative and say 6 wins but if we are improved at OL and defense, could easily pull off 7 or 8. 8 home games are gonna help tremendously.

 

[Blue Decade]

Originally posted by CatDaddy4daWin:
We probably won't beat Auburn but Commonwealth is going to be absolutely rocking that Thursday night and I will almost guarantee we don't get blown out. Probably lose by 7-10. A win would shake the foundation of the stadium, same with the Florida game.

I'm gonna stay conservative and say 6 wins but if we are improved at OL and defense, could easily pull off 7 or 8. 8 home games are gonna help tremendously.

We will be an improved football team in 2015. Auburn has lost some key players including their quarterback, and should not be as good as last year. The game will be played in Lexington. We will be underdogs for a reason, and it will be an upset if we win it. But not a major upset. We can beat Auburn. The toughest game on our 2015 schedule is Georgia. Beating Georgia would be a major upset. Everyone else on our 2015 schedule is doable depending on injuries, breaks, opportunistic play.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Originally posted by JHB4UK:
Like I said in the other thread, a whole bunch of you people here as well as the college football world in general is sleeping on the fact of how bad things are sliding down at South Carolina. have nobody at QB for next year. Have had about a dozen scholarship non-seniors leave the team this offseason/last Fall. Superior openly talking about him being at the end of his career, until their recruiting cratered and he halfheartedly backtracked.

UK wins 7 regular season games
ULL
USC
Florida
EKU
Vandy
Charlotte
UL

probably lose a couple of heartbreakers that we shoulda won, like Auburn & Miss St. Don't see anyone on the schedule who should blow us out save Georgia, we ought to be competitive going into the 4th in the other 11 games.

I think you beat State, but I think you are discounting AU a little too much. Losing Marshall isn't going to hurt their passing game at all, probably helps it. Johnson is a big guy, not as elusive at Marshall at qb but much better passing the ball. They return quite a bit on the OL and DL. They won't be down much, if any at all.

 

[Blue Decade]

Losing Nick Marshall isn't about Auburn's passing game so much. He and Marriota were probably the top dual threat quarterbacks in college football last year. Marshall was very hard to contain in the pocket, even when defenders did everything right. Lashlee and Malzohn designed a lot of running plays for him, and he was capable of becoming a game changer with his feet at anytime. They also lost their 2 most experienced running backs and their starting center. Unless their new quarterback is very, very good, Auburn's offense will take a step back in 2015. Auburn will be favored over Kentucky. But Kentucky should be an improved football team this year on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and that game is in Lexington. We will have to bring it, but we will have a better chance than you think.