Kentucky:
Florida, Georgia and Tennessee are the likely East contenders, but Kentucky is a legit spoiler candidate.
Fourth-year coach Mark Stoops let his frustration be known last month at SEC Media Days. He admitted that the Wildcats failed to finish a few fourth quarters in 2015. They missed out on a bowl berth as a result.
On offense, UK is moving on from one Bluegrass State product to another under center. Patrick Towles left Lexington, setting the stage for the Drew Barker era. Stanley “Boom” Williams is an underrated runner. Defensively, Chris Westry is only a sophomore but already a premier cornerback.
The schedule presents some challenges for the ‘Cats, although drawing defending national champion Alabama from the West is especially cruel. A home date with rebuilding Mississippi State helps balance the scales.
Following back-to-back 5-7 campaigns, Stoops must take Kentucky bowling if he wants genuine job security.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
SDS 2015 projection: 5-7 (1-7)
Actual record: 5-7 (2-6)
Sept. 3 vs. Southern Miss (W): The Golden Eagles were pretty mediocre defensively a year ago despite playing a weak schedule, so Barker gets off to a good start.
Sept. 10 at Florida (L): Kentucky should have won this matchup last season in Lexington, although the Gators escaped with a 14-9 victory. The Swamp is a tough place to play.
Sept. 17 vs. New Mexico State (W): The Aggies definitely fall into the cupcake category, having dropped games last year to Georgia State, UTEP, Troy and Arkansas State, all at home.
Sept. 24 vs. South Carolina (W): The Gamecocks are a good bet to bring up the rear in the East, so the Wildcats should handle them quite easily at Commonwealth Stadium.
Oct. 1 at Alabama (L): Reading between the lines while Stoops was at the podium in Hoover, you could tell he wasn’t particularly pleased with this date. UK can’t compete yet.
Oct. 8 vs. Vanderbilt (W): The Commodores have enough D to give the ‘Cats fits in their own backyard, but a corner like Westry should have a field day facing Vandy’s limp passing attack.
Oct. 22 vs. Mississippi State (W): The media picked South Carolina and Mississippi State to finish last in the East and West, respectively. Kentucky gets both at home. That’s two wins.
Oct. 29 at Missouri (L): Aside from the Crimson Tide, Mizzou features the best defensive line that Barker will face all season. The Tigers should get after him mercilessly.
Nov. 5 vs. Georgia (L): Kirby Smart has been handed a nice-looking roster in Year 1, plus his experience working for Nick Saban has prepared him for any potential road trip.
Nov. 12 at Tennessee (L): The Volunteers still have room for improvement throwing the ball, but they seem to be the class of the division and on their way to Atlanta.
Nov. 19 vs. Austin Peay (W): Time for a cupcake break before Rivalry Week, as the Wildcats put up some big numbers ahead of the following Saturday’s intrastate showdown.
Nov. 26 at Louisville (L): Cardinals quarterback Jamar Jackson will be a household name long before Thanksgiving. He’s a terrifying dual threat and probably too much for UK to handle.
2016 projection: 6-6 (3-5)
SEC race: 4th in the East
The Skinny: A .500 record should be strong enough to get the ‘Cats to a bowl game for the first time since 2010. That was the last in a streak of five consecutive bowl invites for Big Blue Nation. Whether Stoops rides that wave into 2017 and rattles a traditional power or two remains to be seen.
My thing is why do they have us beating Miss St but not Missouri?
Mizzou just lost a lot of their defensive and offensive players.
Here the full article for the rest of the SEC teams, and their season outcomes: http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/sds-crystal-ball-predicting-every-sec-game-2016/
Florida, Georgia and Tennessee are the likely East contenders, but Kentucky is a legit spoiler candidate.
Fourth-year coach Mark Stoops let his frustration be known last month at SEC Media Days. He admitted that the Wildcats failed to finish a few fourth quarters in 2015. They missed out on a bowl berth as a result.
On offense, UK is moving on from one Bluegrass State product to another under center. Patrick Towles left Lexington, setting the stage for the Drew Barker era. Stanley “Boom” Williams is an underrated runner. Defensively, Chris Westry is only a sophomore but already a premier cornerback.
The schedule presents some challenges for the ‘Cats, although drawing defending national champion Alabama from the West is especially cruel. A home date with rebuilding Mississippi State helps balance the scales.
Following back-to-back 5-7 campaigns, Stoops must take Kentucky bowling if he wants genuine job security.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
SDS 2015 projection: 5-7 (1-7)
Actual record: 5-7 (2-6)
Sept. 3 vs. Southern Miss (W): The Golden Eagles were pretty mediocre defensively a year ago despite playing a weak schedule, so Barker gets off to a good start.
Sept. 10 at Florida (L): Kentucky should have won this matchup last season in Lexington, although the Gators escaped with a 14-9 victory. The Swamp is a tough place to play.
Sept. 17 vs. New Mexico State (W): The Aggies definitely fall into the cupcake category, having dropped games last year to Georgia State, UTEP, Troy and Arkansas State, all at home.
Sept. 24 vs. South Carolina (W): The Gamecocks are a good bet to bring up the rear in the East, so the Wildcats should handle them quite easily at Commonwealth Stadium.
Oct. 1 at Alabama (L): Reading between the lines while Stoops was at the podium in Hoover, you could tell he wasn’t particularly pleased with this date. UK can’t compete yet.
Oct. 8 vs. Vanderbilt (W): The Commodores have enough D to give the ‘Cats fits in their own backyard, but a corner like Westry should have a field day facing Vandy’s limp passing attack.
Oct. 22 vs. Mississippi State (W): The media picked South Carolina and Mississippi State to finish last in the East and West, respectively. Kentucky gets both at home. That’s two wins.
Oct. 29 at Missouri (L): Aside from the Crimson Tide, Mizzou features the best defensive line that Barker will face all season. The Tigers should get after him mercilessly.
Nov. 5 vs. Georgia (L): Kirby Smart has been handed a nice-looking roster in Year 1, plus his experience working for Nick Saban has prepared him for any potential road trip.
Nov. 12 at Tennessee (L): The Volunteers still have room for improvement throwing the ball, but they seem to be the class of the division and on their way to Atlanta.
Nov. 19 vs. Austin Peay (W): Time for a cupcake break before Rivalry Week, as the Wildcats put up some big numbers ahead of the following Saturday’s intrastate showdown.
Nov. 26 at Louisville (L): Cardinals quarterback Jamar Jackson will be a household name long before Thanksgiving. He’s a terrifying dual threat and probably too much for UK to handle.
2016 projection: 6-6 (3-5)
SEC race: 4th in the East
The Skinny: A .500 record should be strong enough to get the ‘Cats to a bowl game for the first time since 2010. That was the last in a streak of five consecutive bowl invites for Big Blue Nation. Whether Stoops rides that wave into 2017 and rattles a traditional power or two remains to be seen.
My thing is why do they have us beating Miss St but not Missouri?
Mizzou just lost a lot of their defensive and offensive players.
Here the full article for the rest of the SEC teams, and their season outcomes: http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/sds-crystal-ball-predicting-every-sec-game-2016/
