Even more WBN Staff Predictions on upcoming Kentucky Football Season

The WBN’s Jason Marcus offers his insight into the upcoming season…..

Western Kentucky
I actually think WKU will give UK headaches and make it a competitive game for at least the 1st half.
That will be mainly due to UK adjusting to Rick Minter’s new hybrid defense and RB Bobby Rainey
taking advantage of missed assignments to burn UK’s defense for big gains. WKU will rely heavily on
Rainey to run the ball and control the clock and will manage to do so for a while, but by the time the
2nd half roles around, UK will have made the proper adjustments and begin to take control of the game.
Cats Win 42-20.

Central Meeshagen
The Chippewas return 8 starters, including Cody Wilson, who snagged 83 catches for 1,137 yards last
year. UK’s defense holds him in check, and UK’s running backs have a field day against CMU’s poor
run defense, which ranked 11th in the MAC last year. We finally see what guys like Marcus Caffey and Josh Clemons are made of(barring they don’t redshirt).
Cats Win 45-14

The Dirty Birds
4 of the past 6 meetings between these rivals has been decided by 7 points or less, and this one isn’t
very different. The undermanned Cardinals come in full swing, while UK has Florida(and the streak)
in the back of their minds after winning 5 straight against their in-state rivals. Behind RB Victor
Anderson, UL runs the ball well and keeps UK’s offense off the field. After 3 quarters of grind-it-out
football, UK finally pulls away behind the arm of Morgan Newton taking advantage of UL’s weak
secondary, which lost both starting corners and a projected replacement, Darius Ashley, to suspension.
Cats Win 31-20

The Gators
UK comes into the game fired up and ready to end the streak. The Cats fight hard to keep it close for
the 1st half. Newton takes advantage of an inexperienced UF secondary that lost 3 of 4 starters from last year. Florida’s speed on offense proves too much for UK to handle. RB’s Jeff Demps and Trey Burton take control in the 2nd half.
Gators Win 31-21

LSU
This will be the game we all want to forget. LSU is just an all-around better team. UK doesn’t play well in road night games against the SEC’s best, and LSU is perhaps the toughest venue for just that.
Tigers Win 38-17

The Fighting Chickens
After getting embarrassed the prior week, the Cats come in with a chip on their shoulder and come out
swinging. Marcus Lattimore proves too much for UK’s D to contain, as he burns them on the ground
and receiving. Cats make one last 4th quarter gasp, but fall short.
SC wins 31-24

Bye Week: After 3 straight losses, the Cats go into much need break to rest up and regroup.

Jacksonville State (The other Fighting Chickens)
For the second straight game, the Cats play a team with fighting chickens as their mascot. The Cats
should be thanking Ole Miss for letting JSU upset them last year, as this is all Joker needs to bring up
to keep UK for overlooking JSU. Cat fans may remember JSU’s leading rusher, Washaun Ealy, who
transferred from Georgia after running over UK with 28 carries for 157 yards last year. He doesn’t have an SEC offensive line blocking for him now, and UK handles business.
Cats Win 48-17.

Mississippi State
MSU returns 15 of 22 starters from last year’s 9 win team. Vick Ballard leads the rushing attack and the Cats can’t stop the run. The Bulldogs bring their cowbells into commonwealth and ring UK’ bells and leave the Cats with an 0-4 start in SEC play.
Bulldogs Win 27-20

Ole Miss
This is a must win game for the Cats as they stare at an 0-5 SEC record. The Rebels are arguably the
worst team in the SEC. They do return 9 starters on offense that finished 3rd in the SEC in rushing
offense, led by RB Brandon Bolden. The Cat’s still can’t stop the run and the game turns into a
shootout. Behind Morgan Newton’s arm, the Cat’s edge the Rebels to win their first SEC game.
Cats Win 31-24

Vanderbilt
If the Ole Miss isn’t the worst SEC team, then its Vanderbilt. The Commodores have won one game in
the SEC the last two years and 4 overall. They do return 11 starters, which isn’t necessarily a good.
The Cats come in focused(I hope) and take care of the Dores behind a strong rushing attack led by
Raymond Sanders.
Cats Win 31-13

Georgia
UK comes in on a 2-game SEC winning streak and is beginning to develop some swagger. Georgia is
still in the SEC East hunt and ready to defend their turf. After 3 quarters of back and forth football,
the Bulldogs pull away and hold serve at home.
Dogs win 31-20.

Tennessee
IS this the year the Cats FINALLY take down the Vols? This game will be determined on Rick
Minter;s blitz schemes getting the best of UT QB Tyler Bray. If the Cats can get pressure on the true
sophmore QB and force him into mistakes, the Cats can score enough points to win a defensive battle.
If Bray gets time in the pocket, he’ll pick the Cats apart and win by double digits. My guess: UT keeps
the streak going behind the arm of Bray.
Vols win 34-23

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