Breaking down the Cats and Governors

[UKErik]

The Cats home schedule comes to a close this weekend as UK welcomes Austin Peay. For Kentucky's seniors, the program they're leaving barely resembles the one they joined. Commonwealth Stadium doesn't look like the same place they visited as high school seniors. The practice facility doesn't either. On the field, UK football doesn't much resemble the train wreck left behind by Joker Phillips. In 2013, Kentucky finished 0-8 in league play while struggling to compete with anyone. In their final season as Cats, UK finished 4-4 in the league (tied for the most SEC wins by UK in almost 40 years) while staying in SEC East contention until the final conference game. UK's seniors will end their Commonwealth careers qualifying for bowl eligibility, the schools first such achievement since 2010. These young men took a HUGE leap by joining a program in shambles. While there's still a lot left to do to get UK where we all want them to be, I think it's fair to say this senior class, as small as it is, played their part. A BIG thanks to each and every Wildcat that we'll send off on Saturday afternoon.

Line: Kentucky -46

Series: First meeting between the schools

Time/Television: 4:30 Eastern/SEC Network

Kentucky offense vs. Austin Peay defense: Advantage Kentucky
There are 122 teams at the FCS level. Austin Peay's rushing defense ranks 118th. That pretty much says it all about this matchup. Obviously, Kentucky's ground game is looking at another 400+ yard performance. Actually, they could probably have 400 rush yards by halftime if they mix in 2-3 big plays. Boom Williams has had a standout season. The junior is 24th nationally with 1025 rush yards. He's 7th in the country in yards per attempt. Freshman Benny Snell ranks 48th nationally with 854 yards. I think there's a strong chance he surpasses the 200 yard mark on Saturday (and the 1K mark for the season). Kentucky will maul the Governors up front. AP does have ex-Wildcat Lloyd Tubman. Tubman has 2.5 sacks on the year. I have no idea how much Eddie Gran will want to throw it against the Governors, but zero pass attempts will be needed. Austin Peay has allowed 370 points so far this season. Kentucky will score as many as Stoops wants.

Kentucky defense vs. Austin Peay offense: Advantage Kentucky
The Cats defense is need of a matchup like this. UK has been gashed for about 1000 yards combined over the last two weeks. Against Tennessee, UK was barely competitive. Austin Peay is mostly an absolutely putrid football team, but they do average around 375 yards per game. They run the spread (imagine that; who doesn't these days). QB Timarious Mitchell is a dual threat guy. Hopefully, he isn't as talented as Joshua Dobbs (LOL). While Kentucky's defense is going to get the better of AP much more often than not, this is a matchup that should see them absolutely dominate. If the Governors score more than once or twice and total more than 200 yards, I'll be disappointed. Best guess, UK mauls AP up front, keeps them in 3rd and long, and forces plenty of punts.

Special Teams: Advantage Kentucky
This is one of those games where the offensive guys don't want to see big returns! This is a stats game for everyone though. It wouldn't be surprising in the least to see UK return a punt or kick for a touchdown.

Austin Peay will win if...UK throws the game.

Kentucky will win if...they find their way to Commonwealth Stadium in time to avoid a forfeit.

Prediction...Kentucky 70 Austin Peay 10....I'm sure Mark Stoops will do all he can to hold down the score. How he does that with such an effective running game is beyond me. I guess he could ask Gran to call some seam passes to CJ Conrad. Those sure as hell haven't worked very often this season.

Previous Picks
(8-2 S/U, 6-4 ATS)
Kentucky 31 Southern Mississippi 27
Florida 23 Kentucky10
Kentucky 48 New Mexico State 13
Kentucky 31 South Carolina 26
Alabama 55 Kentucky 7
Kentucky 23 Vanderbilt 13
Kentucky 20 Mississippi State 17
Kentucky 41 Missouri 31
Kentucky 24 Georgia 17
Tennessee 34 Kentucky 27

GBB!!!

 

[reflaine]

Love it. And most if all all the seam passes to Conrad! To keep score down. Lol

 

[UKCatNnc]

Thanks UKErik! I like your comments about our seniors. They sure have been through some changes. I would like to see Johnson throw a few passes; if nothing more than to get the reps. I am looking forward to seeing the first team get some added rest. I like your breakdown. Go Cats!!

 

[Nuke99m.]

I think Jo Jo goes for 100 as well.

 

[Mr Schwump]

Stated elsewhere that my hope is UK builds a big first half lead and turns the game over to the subs in the 2d half. Great time to see Kash, Firios, Bonner and Brown at LB and Carter, Dubose, Kengera, Taylor in the DL. Also hoping Kemp, being a sr, gets the majority of the 2d half carries. But a warning...UK has a way of screwing up these type of games. UK will win but the play could get ugly. UK 45-12.

 

[ukalum1988]

I think it would be cool to let JoJo start the game as a senior, and have him play the first series or two. Then, he and Sihiem King could/should able to play most of the second half.

I agree with UKErik that the Cats won't really need to pass the ball AT ALL to win. However, it would be great to see Ryan Timmons have some long balls thrown his way.

Hopefully no one gets hurt and the Cats can then start getting ready for Louisville.

 

[Nuke99m.]

Also would like to see Snell get his 1000 but I understand holding him and Boom back for next week.

 

[Blueisbest]

Kentucky will run, run, run, all day long. There is nothing APSU can do to stop it. I predict at least 7 rushing TD's tomorrow. Even id Stoops pulls Boom, Benny and JoJo early, King will likely take over and gash the defense for a ton of yards.

 

[maysvilleky]

I hope JoJo has a big game. He deserves it.

 

[Kooky Kats_anon]

31-21 Cats.

 

[jauk11]

I always like your breakdown, and agree with your nice tribute to the seniors. Should be a nice game for Johnson to work on his TE passes, get Timmons a long TD, Snell to lock up a thousand yard season. Lots of our players need a chance to show what they can do, King for instance.

But like always there are only so many plays to pass around, and the regulars deserve to get their share of the action.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Need to get the backups some reps. Like to see the backup QB go into the game before halftime.

 

[ScrewDuke1]

I think Jo Jo goes for 100 as well.

All of our backs might go for 100+. This will be similar to the Charlotte game of last year IMO.

 

[cardkilla_rivals379685]

Would love to have this over by halftime as well and get our guys on the mend for the dirty birds. That game looks winnable to me. Cards are beat up and have played pretty poorly the last few weeks.

Cats 55 AP 9

 

[mtn cat1]

The Cats home schedule comes to a close this weekend as UK welcomes Austin Peay. For Kentucky's seniors, the program they're leaving barely resembles the one they joined. Commonwealth Stadium doesn't look like the same place they visited as high school seniors. The practice facility doesn't either. On the field, UK football doesn't much resemble the train wreck left behind by Joker Phillips. In 2013, Kentucky finished 0-8 in league play while struggling to compete with anyone. In their final season as Cats, UK finished 4-4 in the league (tied for the most SEC wins by UK in almost 40 years) while staying in SEC East contention until the final conference game. UK's seniors will end their Commonwealth careers qualifying for bowl eligibility, the schools first such achievement since 2010. These young men took a HUGE leap by joining a program in shambles. While there's still a lot left to do to get UK where we all want them to be, I think it's fair to say this senior class, as small as it is, played their part. A BIG thanks to each and every Wildcat that we'll send off on Saturday afternoon.

Line: Kentucky -46

Series: First meeting between the schools

Time/Television: 4:30 Eastern/SEC Network

Kentucky offense vs. Austin Peay defense: Advantage Kentucky
There are 122 teams at the FCS level. Austin Peay's rushing defense ranks 118th. That pretty much says it all about this matchup. Obviously, Kentucky's ground game is looking at another 400+ yard performance. Actually, they could probably have 400 rush yards by halftime if they mix in 2-3 big plays. Boom Williams has had a standout season. The junior is 24th nationally with 1025 rush yards. He's 7th in the country in yards per attempt. Freshman Benny Snell ranks 48th nationally with 854 yards. I think there's a strong chance he surpasses the 200 yard mark on Saturday (and the 1K mark for the season). Kentucky will maul the Governors up front. AP does have ex-Wildcat Lloyd Tubman. Tubman has 2.5 sacks on the year. I have no idea how much Eddie Gran will want to throw it against the Governors, but zero pass attempts will be needed. Austin Peay has allowed 370 points so far this season. Kentucky will score as many as Stoops wants.

Kentucky defense vs. Austin Peay offense: Advantage Kentucky
The Cats defense is need of a matchup like this. UK has been gashed for about 1000 yards combined over the last two weeks. Against Tennessee, UK was barely competitive. Austin Peay is mostly an absolutely putrid football team, but they do average around 375 yards per game. They run the spread (imagine that; who doesn't these days). QB Timarious Mitchell is a dual threat guy. Hopefully, he isn't as talented as Joshua Dobbs (LOL). While Kentucky's defense is going to get the better of AP much more often than not, this is a matchup that should see them absolutely dominate. If the Governors score more than once or twice and total more than 200 yards, I'll be disappointed. Best guess, UK mauls AP up front, keeps them in 3rd and long, and forces plenty of punts.

Special Teams: Advantage Kentucky
This is one of those games where the offensive guys don't want to see big returns! This is a stats game for everyone though. It wouldn't be surprising in the least to see UK return a punt or kick for a touchdown.

Austin Peay will win if...UK throws the game.

Kentucky will win if...they find their way to Commonwealth Stadium in time to avoid a forfeit.

Prediction...Kentucky 70 Austin Peay 10....I'm sure Mark Stoops will do all he can to hold down the score. How he does that with such an effective running game is beyond me. I guess he could ask Gran to call some seam passes to CJ Conrad. Those sure as hell haven't worked very often this season.

Previous Picks
(8-2 S/U, 6-4 ATS)
Kentucky 31 Southern Mississippi 27
Florida 23 Kentucky10
Kentucky 48 New Mexico State 13
Kentucky 31 South Carolina 26
Alabama 55 Kentucky 7
Kentucky 23 Vanderbilt 13
Kentucky 20 Mississippi State 17
Kentucky 41 Missouri 31
Kentucky 24 Georgia 17
Tennessee 34 Kentucky 27

GBB!!!

Thank you Erick! Thank you for your emphasis regarding paying tribute to those seniors in the FB Program! As you so aptly described, most likely, the game should be an absolute blow-out, however, that certainty should not prevent fans from "filling CWS" to demonstrate their gratitude for the services &sacrificies that these seniors have rendered to UK & to our FB Program!!!

 

[docholiday51]

I think Jo Jo goes for 100 as well.

King will probably get 100 as well,Boom could probably get 400 if we wanted to do it.

 

[KentuckyStout]

Per KSR, several of their defensive players are suspended for today's game? Does anyone know more about this?

 

[UKErik]

Just heard that. And their defense is beyond putrid to begin with. My goodness.

GBB!!!

 

[Bluesnky]

1) Run the WildKemp behind the first string line. 2) Get a good lead by the end of the first quarter. 3) Run the WildKemp behind the third string line for the rest of the game.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I went to APSU for grad school. Not a fan of the school despite that...let's put up 70. Good call Erik.

 

[Uk44cats]

I think we need to work on the short passing game as well. Will need it in UL game and bowl game...

 

[lex cath]

Just read where AP suspended 5 players for this game, no idea if they are starters :cookie: