Some experts picking Kentucky as surprise team in SEC

[mktmaker]

On my drive home from work, I occasionally flip to the Paul Finebaum (radio) show.

So yesterday Tony Barnhart was guest hosting and he had two SEC "experts" talking about the upcoming football season. I changed stations once they went to commercials, so I don't know who the guests were.

One predicted LSU to "run the table."

One says the surprise team in the West would be Mississippi State.

When they switched the discussion to the SEC East, they suggested that both Georgia and Tennessee may be overrated because their relatively weak QB play will make it easy to defend their running games.

One picked Kentucky to upset Georgia at Lexington...and all three predicted Kentucky to outperform the preseason rankings.

 

[maverick1rw]

On my drive home from work, I occasionally flip to the Paul Finebaum (radio) show.

So yesterday Tony Barnhart was guest hosting and he had two SEC "experts" talking about the upcoming football season. I changed stations once they went to commercials, so I don't know who the guests were.

One predicted LSU to "run the table."

One says the surprise team in the West would be Mississippi State.

When they switched the discussion to the SEC East, they suggested that both Georgia and Tennessee may be overrated because their relatively weak QB play will make it easy to defend their running games.

One picked Kentucky to upset Georgia at Lexington...and all three predicted Kentucky to outperform the preseason rankings.

"and all three predicted Kentucky to outperform the preseason rankings"

Lets hope so.

 

[ulismyman]

Isnt Hobbs still at UT??? They wont be weak at QB

 

[CB3UK]

Dobbs, but yes.

 

[ulismyman]

Yes..thanks

 

[Ctroberts1024]

Dobbs has his shortcomings throwing the ball. But he is easily the best athlete at QB in the SEC and probably top 5 in the nation. He's a perfect fit for what they like to do offensively.

 

[weused2luvhim2]

Well we will make Dobbs look like an All American. Running qb=doom for the Cats.

 

[richbrookstomato]

I've been waiting nearly 40 years for the ball to finally bounce our way in critical games. Let's hope this is the year that we finally out perform expectations!!

 

[BigBoyBlueMMA]

I've heard quite a few pundits suggest that UT cannot develop a real passing game due to WR not being able to stay healthy and this could make Dobbs more pedestrian than most think as the rushing game will be singled out (such as was suggested with GA)

 

[Deeeefense]

Agree with most of what these experts are saying except regarding Hobbs which others have pointed out. I do think we have a decent shot at Georgia this year due to scheduling, and I also think UK can overachieve this year. I also picked LSU to win the West over Bama.

 

[seccats04]

Agree with most of what these experts are saying except regarding Hobbs which others have pointed out. I do think we have a decent shot at Georgia this year due to scheduling, and I also think UK can overachieve this year. I also picked LSU to win the West over Bama.

We don't stand much of a chance at UT or Georgia. Both teams are great at running the ball and we suck at stopping it. Chubb, Michel, Hurd, Kamara and Dobbs will look like pinballs with our defense.

 

[anon_7tbtqcx308nxh]

The knock on Josh Dobbs is he's been bad against good competition while his numbers get padded against poor teams. Overall, his completion percentage was 59% last season. This isn't much better than Patrick Towles 56%, and Dobbs had a good offensive line.

 

[Onomatopoeia]

Seen a site the other day that picked UK to go 8-4 but I don't remember where at. regardless, we are getting some hype.

 

[WildCard]

SEC-E looks like a 2 division division...TN, FL and GA in one division and everyone else in another. It will be crazy within each "division' but I don't look for anyone to move to the "other" division. JMO. [winking]

Peace

 

[JasonS.]

SEC-E looks like a 2 division division...TN, FL and GA in one division and everyone else in another. It will be crazy in each "division' but I don't look for anyone to move to the "other" division. JMO. [winking]

Peace

Last year, Kentucky/USC/Missouri/Vandy had zero wins over Tennessee/Georgia/Florida. Would be kind of crazy if that happened again, but wouldn't shock me.

 

[Dakota25]

It would be nice to see. It's just that I feel that I hear the same things every off season.

 

[katonic]

Georgia has a lot of unknowns going into fall camp at RB. Michel has a broken forearm and isn't expected back for the first game. Everyone saw how serious Chubb's knee injury was last year. His status is still TBD.

 

[Mike-D]

I remember David Hobbs too.

 

[shutzhund]

Seen a site the other day that picked UK to go 8-4 but I don't remember where at. regardless, we are getting some hype.

Probably saw it here. Can't imagine seeing it anywhere else.

 

[hmt5000]

Last year, Kentucky/USC/Missouri/Vandy had zero wins over Tennessee/Georgia/Florida. Would be kind of crazy if that happened again, but wouldn't shock me.

definitely feel 4th in the east is the ceiling this year for us. uga meltdown with a new coach would be the only thing that would change that and i dont see muschamp level ineptness in kirby.

 

[cookscats]

Got to beat Southern Miss first but a win in Gainesville could set the tone for a surprise run. But of course the last 2 seasons have had that good start but what a way to start SEC play and stop that embarrassing streak

 

[Hjack]

Well we will make Dobbs look like an All American. Running qb=doom for the Cats.

Through the years, we have produced several All Americans - - on other teams.

 

[JC CATS]

Agree with most of what these experts are saying except regarding Hobbs which others have pointed out. I do think we have a decent shot at Georgia this year due to scheduling, and I also think UK can overachieve this year. I also picked LSU to win the West over Bama.

Hope it happens, but I don't see us beating Ga or Tenn. I do think 6 wins though

 

[Bryo72]

I've been waiting nearly 40 years for the ball to finally bounce our way in critical games. Let's hope this is the year that we finally out perform expectations!!

LSU 2007.....Win over Alabama CWS 1997, Win over GA 2006 CWS....

 

[Bryo72]

LSU 2007.....Win over Alabama CWS 1997, Win over GA 2006 CWS....

I mean granted, we have more downs then ups in football....but we're have you been in the last 40yrs? If your pulling some kind of close in encounters of the third kind stuff?! I forgive you! "Welcome back to earth!"

 

[VikingsCat]

Agree with most of what these experts are saying except regarding Hobbs which others have pointed out. I do think we have a decent shot at Georgia this year due to scheduling, and I also think UK can overachieve this year. I also picked LSU to win the West over Bama.

I agree, but we're still not were we need to be. The biggest change this year compared to the last few seasons IMO is that we have raised the bar. We are no longer a team that may only win 3, but we should win 5. This is how I have seen it;

2013 low 3 wins, high 5 wins (record 2-10)
2014 low 3 wins, high 7 wins (record 5-7)
2015 low 4 wins, high 8 wins (record 5-7)
2016 low 5 wins, high 10 wins (?)

 

[JPFisher]

I mean granted, we have more downs then ups in football....but we're have you been in the last 40yrs? If your pulling some kind of close in encounters of the third kind stuff?! I forgive you! "Welcome back to earth!"

I believe the poster was referring to not sucking consistently. Picking out three "lucky bounces" isn't the best proof.

 

[ok-cats-computer]

definitely feel 4th in the east is the ceiling this year for us. uga meltdown with a new coach would be the only thing that would change that and i dont see muschamp level ineptness in kirby.

I think that 4th in the east is our most likely outcome, but not our ceiling. I believe we will be competitive with Florida and Georgia. We won't be favored to beat the Gators or Dogs, but I really think we have a good chance to win one of those games and move into 3rd. Of course, I'm always optimistic about Kentucky Football in August.

 

[richbrookstomato]

I mean granted, we have more downs then ups in football....but we're have you been in the last 40yrs? If your pulling some kind of close in encounters of the third kind stuff?! I forgive you! "Welcome back to earth!"

We also had Miss St., USC and UT in 2007, those were the "critical games" that meant a chance at winning the SEC East.

2006- much of the same
1997- not enough to even make a bowl
1984- 9-3 record, no chance at the SEC Championship, still great but that's over 30 years ago.



We haven't had a winning record in the SEC in close to 40 years.

Unless I've missed something and E.T. has zapped my memory, I can't recall our football team winning enough "critical games" over the last 40 years.

 

[Kooky Kats_anon]

Words.

 

[Greasy Creak Mafia]

I'd like to knock Dan Mullen out of his stupid looking Yeezies this season and slap,around that protector of women beaters while we got them at home. Pull a W away from that Harley riding neck brace wearing weasel, then sneak out with one more W we are not projected to win.....,, if we can do that these predictions might be close.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

If Missouri can win the east 2 years in a row then we can do it as well. We have just as much talent on paper or more than they did. It's up to the coaches to prepare physically our players, call a good game, prepare our guys and coach them up to compete beyond what they think they can accomplish.
They main ingredient to winning is believing.

 

[12375CAT]

I am also picking the Wildcats as a surprise team. Expect the Wildcats to be the

 

[Bryo72]

I'm not saying the cats won't be a surprise...quote unquote team this year....I'm predicting 7-5/8-4