Kentucky

[MonkeyCheese]

I don't think they'll be a pushover at all. I'm not ready toguaranteeany win against them. But I do notice that they have the 11th ranked rush defense in the conference. They give up 176 a game. We should get that and more against them. We're averaging 211 a game.<div>
</div><div>It's Kentucky's pass offense that concerns me a little. They put up 270 a game (#2 in the conference behind Arkansas' 366 a game.) Our DB's will have their work cut out for them in both of those games.</div>

 

[jackstefano]

They're not overly impressive but they tend to have remarkable second halves. The QB is more consistent this year, had a great game against SC. Cobb is the straw that stirs the drink. Their little scat back has been out but I'd expect him back for your game. The freshman RB has looked pretty good. Defense is not great but seems serviceable of late, especially in the second half. Not a betting man but if I was I'd stay away from this game.

 

[patdog]

for Kentucky. They're 11th in the SEC in rushing defense. And our pass defense is 6th in the SEC (virtual tie for 5th). Their pass offense looks good if you just look at the stats, but they've played against the 3 worst pass defenses in the SEC already. They'll have a much tougher time of it against our defense, especially on the road. I look for us to run wild on them and win something like 38-24.

 

[Griffdawg]

As long as we don't turn the ball over or give up a cheap td on special teams, we should control the clock and "impose our will" on the Mildcat defense by running the ball. I'm not expecting an easy game or a blow-out but I think that our ball control offense willimit UK's number of possessionswhich will keep their offensefrom getting in a rhythm. Also, I trust Manny to make any necessary adjustments at half time to keep them from rallying against us in the second half.We should find out pretty early on if wehave the intensity needed to avoid a let down.

 

[Ol Blue.sixpack]

old ball coach - as in senile. SC carried an 18 point lead into half time and what did Stevie Wonder do? Forget how to call a running play. SC called 6 running plays in the second half. I don't care who is hurt - you don't quit running against a team that can't stop the run. <div>
</div><div>The SEC is the only conference in America with two idiots who have won NC's. Of course Spurrier wasn't exactly an idiot when he won his.</div>

 

[Todd4State]

is going to be taking care of the ball. If we do that, we should be fine.

Of course, I'm expecting us to at least start with the same gameplan that we've had vs SEC teams as of late- lots of Ballard, lots of Relf.

 

[patdog]

Even when he was at Florida, he sometimes got too cute for his own good. But his best teams were always strong running teams. You're right about him blowing the game last Saturday. When you've got an 18-point lead at halftime against a defense that can't stop the run, you run the ball.

 

[jakldawg]

was letting Randall Cobb get that wide open in the end zone for the last TD. He had enough time alone back there to compose his first scathing Tweet of the night and order takeout.

 

[thunderclap]

I'm guessing it will help our "serious" meter.

 

[FISHDAWG]

it's these kind of games that we are "supposed" to win that are a little concerning ... in this conf. anyone can upset almost anyone as we saw with S Carolina against bama ... yeah, on paper it looks good but I hope we don't go into this game feeling like the win is owed to us ... hey griffdawg, the Kentucky game is a def. go for me

 

[Sutterkane]

I feel good about our next 2.

 

[patdog]

The Houston game last year is the only one I'd even consider putting in that category. But they did win 10 games that year and we were coming off the Crxxm error, so I'd consider that one more of a toss-up game.

 

[Sutterkane]

Houston was a tough out, but we probably should have beaten them. They were still a CUSA team and we led them at halftime. That game really wasn't Mullen's fault though...if anything it was the CUSA officials and Hot Carl's fault.

 

[jcdawgman18]

[No message]

 

[ckDOG]

Up to this point, our "supposed to lose" games have far outnumbered our "supposed to win" games. So it's no surprise that Mullen is doing comparatively well in that respect. He simply has a lot of opportunities to pull off upsets than he does at taking care of business in games we have good odds in.

Dan's first job is to manage to win a couple of those "supposed to lose games" (check) and the second job is to get us in a position where we start having more "supposed to win games". It appears we are getting to that point. Before the season started, I would have classified the UK game as a "game we could win", but now, I think we should win it. Big difference. Dan is doing his job so far.

However, the biggest difference between a great team/coach and a decent team/coach is getting to point where the likely wins begin to exceed the likely losses and you actually capitalize on the opportunities you do have. Hell, Crooms knocked off a couple of teams that he wasn't supposed to - so upsets aren't unique to good coaches and teams only. Croom sucked he never got us to a point where the should wins made up a significant portion of our schedule - or even beat the Maines and LaTechs of the world.

The next two games are huge in the grand scheme of things. We have 2 games where I believe most feel very good about our prospects of winning. Do we capitalize? Or do we choke? The old MSU chokes. We'll find out very soon how the new regime reacts to a little bit of success and opportunity to continue it...