UK Has The Toughest Schedule In The East
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Kentucky Wildcats
2015 opponents’ record: 84-70
SEC East opponents: 41-35
1 FCS: Austin Peay (0-11)
1 real weak sister: New Mexico State (3-9)
2 tough nuts: Southern Miss (9-5) & Louisville (8-5)
SEC West opponents: Alabama & Mississippi State (23-5)
Tough road games: Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisville
The Wildcats must play two out-of-conference foes that sported winning records in 2015 and figure to be tough again this year. They have four really tough road games, including Alabama, which ultimately is what puts the Wildcats’ slate to be the roughest among SEC East teams in 2016.
Trap game: Tennessee. It’s always a trap game for Kentucky. They’ve beaten the Vols ONCE since 1984! Throw in the fact this Nov. 12 game is on the road and comes after Kentucky will have played Georgia, and it just looks like the Bataan Death March for the ‘Cats.
2015 opponents’ record: 84-70
SEC East opponents: 41-35
1 FCS: Austin Peay (0-11)
1 real weak sister: New Mexico State (3-9)
2 tough nuts: Southern Miss (9-5) & Louisville (8-5)
SEC West opponents: Alabama & Mississippi State (23-5)
Tough road games: Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisville
The Wildcats must play two out-of-conference foes that sported winning records in 2015 and figure to be tough again this year. They have four really tough road games, including Alabama, which ultimately is what puts the Wildcats’ slate to be the roughest among SEC East teams in 2016.
Trap game: Tennessee. It’s always a trap game for Kentucky. They’ve beaten the Vols ONCE since 1984! Throw in the fact this Nov. 12 game is on the road and comes after Kentucky will have played Georgia, and it just looks like the Bataan Death March for the ‘Cats.
This is a very amateurism publication that I do not think very highly of. Right off the bat there are several things wrong with this piece. First they have done zero research as to if specific team have improved or declined from last season - they just use last seasons records. Also why would Missouri be a "tough road game" for Vandy but no one else? If they are just evaluating a schedule than it should be the same for all teams, if they are considering relative toughness against a specific team then they are no longer evaluating the schedule, the are evaluating the team.
Also the writer apparently does not understand what a trap game is. A trap game is a perceived weaker opponent scheduled between two stronger opponents where a let down situation can develop. Thus you are in danger of being "caught in a trap". Our game with Tennessee is not a trap game for either team.
IMO this years schedule favors a 7 or 8 win season more so than last years becasue most all of our best chances for wins are home games, Georgia being the one exception but historically we have had some pretty close battles with the Dawgs over the years. OTOH this would NOT be the kind of schedule that would favor higher goals like a division championship as the main competitors are mostly road games.
Also the writer apparently does not understand what a trap game is. A trap game is a perceived weaker opponent scheduled between two stronger opponents where a let down situation can develop. Thus you are in danger of being "caught in a trap". Our game with Tennessee is not a trap game for either team.
IMO this years schedule favors a 7 or 8 win season more so than last years becasue most all of our best chances for wins are home games, Georgia being the one exception but historically we have had some pretty close battles with the Dawgs over the years. OTOH this would NOT be the kind of schedule that would favor higher goals like a division championship as the main competitors are mostly road games.
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Definitely agree here. I laughed at their perceived "trap game" also. A trap game falls more into the line of Austin Peay, who is sandwiched in between our two biggest rivals, Tennessee and Louisville.
Toughest schedule in the east is also debatable. UGA has UNC, GaTech, Ole Miss and Auburn as their OOC and SEC West opponents. UT has VaTech, Bama and A&M. Florida has FSU, Arkansas and LSU.
IMO, our home/away schedule plays out pretty well. Bama on the road is a good thing for us. There is ZERO reason we should not be 4-2 going into the bye week.
I will ask....Why schedule a Southern Miss when there are a lot more "sister's of the poor" that UK could be playing? I would hate to see this game be a reason that UK doesn't make a bowl game again!!! I think if UK had already established a winning tradition, then no big deal, but when every win is vitally important, I think you schedule "give me's" where you can for now.
UK didn't have much choice. After UAB dropped football it left a hole on the schedule they had to fill and there wasn't many options left. I'm sure Stoops would rather be playing a cream puff.
Not too bad of an overview (for that blog) but I'm not sure "what" it really means for UK. For the 2016 season their primary focus is about getting at least 6 wins from the 7 games they appear to be perfectly capable of winning.
One of the problems with these in conference "tough vs easy" schedule comparisons is that stronger teams (e.g., AL, FL, GA, LSU, maybe a few others) have a double sided "advantage" over weaker teams. Number 1, they don't have to play themselves and, #2, because of their relative strength some teams are "easy" for them that might be tough for other team. For example, Vandy should not be a "problem" for GA or FL but is often a problem for UK.
I do disagree with the writer labeling UT as the "trap" game. IMO, a trap game is one that you should win but could lose, mainly because of its' place on the schedule. The Cats will not be expected to win in Knoxville this year.
However, in the big picture, until UK can beat SC, MO, Vandy and MSU on a fairly consistent basis UK's SEC schedule is always going to be one of the toughest. Over the past 6 seasons the Cats have gone 6-15 against those teams.
Peace
One of the problems with these in conference "tough vs easy" schedule comparisons is that stronger teams (e.g., AL, FL, GA, LSU, maybe a few others) have a double sided "advantage" over weaker teams. Number 1, they don't have to play themselves and, #2, because of their relative strength some teams are "easy" for them that might be tough for other team. For example, Vandy should not be a "problem" for GA or FL but is often a problem for UK.
I do disagree with the writer labeling UT as the "trap" game. IMO, a trap game is one that you should win but could lose, mainly because of its' place on the schedule. The Cats will not be expected to win in Knoxville this year.
However, in the big picture, until UK can beat SC, MO, Vandy and MSU on a fairly consistent basis UK's SEC schedule is always going to be one of the toughest. Over the past 6 seasons the Cats have gone 6-15 against those teams.
Peace
If UK can't beat Southern Miss at home it doesn't deserve to be in a bowl anyway.
I present Appalachian State vs Michigan. Anything is possible including Georgia State beating Georgia. And, once upon a time Miami of Ohio beating LSU at Tiger Stadium. UK should handle Southern Miss, but stranger things in football have happened.
I actually agree with you, for a change.
That blurb from SDS is pathetic. How can UT be a trap game for UK (especially in Knoxville)? Ridiculous.
Also, I would argue that maybe UK's schedule isn't as difficult as it could be b/c the winnable games are almost all at home (except for Mizzou and UL).
Didn't USCw lose to Stanford when they were a 31 point favorite? Or was it 41, LOL, I really think that the Bama game is the only one that is completely out of our reach.
Aww, just come out and admit it...you agree with me a lot. [laughing]
FWIW, Steel's pre-season SOS ranking the SECE (+ MSU & AL) are as follows:
(#3 AL)
(#26 MSU)
#43 UK
#44 Vandy
#49 SC
#51 MO
#55 FL
#57 GA
#58 TN
So, to the subject of the thread, yes, UK does have the toughest schedule in the east. But I still think it a schedule where a 6 win season is a very reasonable expectation.
Peace
EDIT: Previously had SC tagged as #40
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The window is open right now for UK to make a move in the East standings. Half the division will have new coaching staffs, not much creates as much turmoil as complete change of schemes. How long that window is open depends on how well the new hires work out for UGA, USC and Missouri. If they are bad hires, the window will be open for several years, if the hires are good ones that window will close pretty quick. I think the time for UK is now, Stoops has his guys as upper classmen, first class are Sr, his best class are Jr, I can't really speak for USC, but we won't have many Sr playing,
Can't disagree with any of this. That window has been open for several years now. The SECE has been "down" for some years now and it was SC and MO that took advantage, not UK. Steel's 2015 SOS ratings had UK at #42 pre-season but #64 when all was said and done. It is hard to think of last season's 5-7 mark as anything but a substantial disappointment.
Steel pre-season ranks the Cat's 2016 SOS at #50. The Cats do not get that 8th home game this year but do get 6 of their 7 "most winnable" games at home. So, once again, a great shot at a 6 win season.
JMO, but if this program is truly improving, it is high time those improvements show up in W/L record. A 5 win season will not get this staff canned but, IMO, it would be an ominous sign for 2017, the year when some say is "the year". If the 2014 to 2015 seasons are "typical consecutive years" only 19 of the 65 P5 teams improved by 2 or more wins in 2015. And only 3 of those improvers were in the SEC (FL +3, AL +2, and TN +2). I think the 2017 crowd is expecting something more than a 6 win season in that year. I know people don't like to hear this, but, other than John Ray, every coach at UK since Charlie Bradshaw has recorded a 6 win season NLT year 4. And other than Joker and maybe Curry, all those guys took over as big a mess as did Stoops.
Peace
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Wrong. Those other coaches didn't follow Phillips. Nice try at trying to minimize the task facing Stoops but you fail.
So you think Stoops has the hardest job of any coach to ever coach at UK? It seems that you are saying that following Joker should diminish expectations so far for this program that expecting just 1 six win season in four year even when you have upgraded the roster is setting the bar to high.
Who knows who has/had the hardest job? Comparing UK Ray era with UK Stoops era is ridiculous. Stoops has a helluva building job but the resident UL toady just can't pass up a chance to gig Stoops. It's in his blood.
Winning solves everything. Pride in the program equals better attendance and elevates the Commonwealth in a more positive state of mind toward football.
No doubt Joker left a huge mess and a big job for Stoops. But I would be surprised if there are very many Phillips guys left on the roster, at least 90% Stoops guys now I would think. UK has stepped up for Stoops, upgrading facilities, probably an agreement to take the job, but they have finally invested in the football program. I think UK needs to show improved play and organization this year, part of the learning process. That has probably cost a win or 2 the last couple of years.
Lots have stated how much tougher UK's schedule is this year, maybe but it won't be any worse that 0-2 against the west so having Bama doesn't really matter. 2 fluffly cuppcakes, 1 that should give you a good test and the rival game. Could be the favorite in 3 of the East games, maybe more by gameweek.
I think this is a big season for UK, next will be too, Stoops first guys still here will be RS sr, which is what he has been trying to do since he got here. UGA Will be young this year at alot of positions, lots of sophs will be playing and some frosh will be too, DL will very likely all be soph and frosh except for 1 guy, maybe a 2nd if he moves back to DE. Very inexperienced at DL, but the other 8 will all have started at least 2-4 games, but we may not be able to score this year either. Vandy, Missouri and USC will all struggle to score I think. I believe UK's offense is capable of putting up more points than either of those 4, maybe UF too if they don't find some playmakers. UK's offense should be the 2nd best offense in the East heading into the season.
That is very high praise for our offense, but I think you could be right. UK has a lot of four stars on Offense now, most with adequate experience, and I think we only lose one starter, so on paper it looks very good. I think TU and Georgia should be the biggest contenders for #1, hard to overlook Georgia's RBs if Chubb recovers, but I'm not sure how good they are elsewhere. Of course Florida always has a ton of talent too.
Hard to believe that we could be better than them on offense, but it is possible I guess.
Jauk11, anything really is possible in the east right now....Right gone from GA, Tenn on paper should be awesome, but under scrutiny, FL, well Florida (but beatable).....South Carolina no more Spurrier....its just a toss up....
I'll admit, I hate loosing the close ones....especially when were up, I hate being a pessimist, but it's hard not too sometimes with UK football....I always say to myself, were going too give it away somehow....it's frustrating.....
That excuse can only be used for so long. Brooks turned it around in his fourth season after being on probation.
This is the year Stoops needs to show that his teams can play. No more getting beat by Vanday by 40 pts.
Has a Stoops-coached team lost to Vandy by 40? I mean, I agree,,,it's time to win games.
I meant that as a euphemism. Naturally, I want them to win, but I'm not judging them just by wins and losses yet. I want to see them compete and show they are heading in the right direction.