WBN Games of the Week: The Revenge of the Ole Ball Coach
If Kentucky football wants to play in a bowl game this postseason, then the game against the Gamecocks is about as important of a game they have played in recent years. The downside is that Steve Spurrier will be looking for revenge for losing to Kentucky last year for the firs time in his career.
Kentucky (2-3) at 18 South Carolina (4-1): October 8th, 12:20 PM
Kentucky is in the midst of a three game losing streak. Two of those losses, against LSU and Florida, were expected. The loss to an awful, terrible, no good, very bad Louisville team was unexpected. Instead of being 3-2 right now, the Cats are one game under .500.
The Wildcats need to be 3-3 after Saturday to realistically get to a bowl game. They are ending the meat of their schedule by travelling to a South Carolina team that is not as good as their 18th ranking and 4-1 record indicates.
Despite having all world running back Marcus Lattimore, the Gamecocks rank 60th in rushing yards per game. Their starting quarterback, fifth year senior Stephen Garcia, will not make the start this week because of his ineffective play. Sophomore Connor Shaw is getting the nod and he is coming in 4 of 11 completions for 29 yards and no touchdowns on the year, which will allow Kentucky to focus on stopping Lattimore and the seemingly poor running game.
The Gamecocks defense has not been great either. They are ranked 43rd overall. The key to this game for Kentucky is the need to find 17-20 points. If the Cats can muster some semblance of a passing game to go along with what has been a decent at times running game, then the upset can occur.
The defense of the Wildcats has proven to be hard working and effective if they are given time to rest. Long rushing drives complimented by the pass would do the trick. Morgan Newton is still confident in his abilities. Time to put up or shut up.
Cats 19-Gamecocks 17
Louisville (2-2) at North Carolina (4-1)
Louisville lost to Marshall Saturday. They are pathetic. I know I have said this 1,000 times but I have no idea how the Cats lost to them at home. None whatsoever.
That being said, the Cards have to travel to Chapel Hill and face a depleted but still talented Tar Heels team. Carolina has had one big hiccup against Rutgers in the first game of the season and only beat them by two. They have been playing some solid football since then, their only loss coming from the #25 ranked Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech.
The Heels have a decent offense with a quarterback that has already thrown for over 1,00 yards and 11 TD’s, an over 500 yard rusher and some decent receivers. If Marshall, Kentucky and Murray State can put up points on the Cards, you better believe Michael Jordan’s favorite college team will.
UNC 35 Duh Ville 15
SEC Game of the Week: #15 Auburn (4-1) at #10 Arkansas (4-1): October 8th, 7:00 PM
Arkansas has been defeated to the tune of 38-14 and is still #10 in the country. But the team they lost to was Alabama, a team with an argument to be #1 instead of #2. Arkansas is coming off of an epic comeback against rival Texas A&M and can boast the #4 passing attack in the country.
The Auburn Tigers have one loss against #8 Clemson, who have beaten three ranked teams in a row. The Tigers looked shaky early but are now playing some decent football and are coming off of handing the Gamecocks their first loss.
This will be a test of the running game vs. the passing game. Auburn is 5th in the nation in the running attack. Neither team really has a chance to represent the West in the SEC Championship game with Alabama and LSU laying claim to that privilege, so this is a battle for third best team in the SEC West and in the entire SEC.
Razorbacks win at home 38-28
Non-SEC Game of the Week: #3 Oklahoma (4-0) at #11 Texas (4-0): October 8th, 12:00 PM
What other game would I have chosen? It’s the Red River Shoot Out. Oklahoma has to be stinging a little bit from being knocked out of the #1 and #2 spots without even losing a game. They will want to make an example out of their rivals on Saturday. They also want to whip up on Texas for being the main reason that the Big 12 is being destroyed and having to possibly admit a team like Louisville into their conference.
Texas wants to prove that they are still Texas after a humiliating season last year in which they missed a bowl game. Original Texas starting quarter back Garrett Gilbert has since been replaced by Colt’s little brother Case and the Longhorns have been playing much better football.
But the Sooners still have Landry Jones and they still have the #3 passing offense in the NCAA.
Sooners 45 Longhorns 24
Clunker of the Week:Western Kentucky (0-4) at Middle Tennessee State (1-3): October 6th, 7:30 PM
The powerhouse Sun Belt conference will showcase two of the worst teams in all of the FBS. The game is on ESPNU but I am not sure why anybody would watch this game unless A). They go to one of those schools; B). Their kid plays on the team; C). They are almuni of one of these schools; or D). For some other reason your only other option is a marathon of the show Glee.
Did I mention that Kentucky struggled against WKU while Indiana State beat them 44-16? D’oh!!!
MTSU 13 WKU 3
NFL Game of the Week: Jets (2-2) at Patriots (3-1): October 9th, 4:15 P.M.
The Jets just got demolished by the Ravens and have not looked like the Super Bowl Champion that Rex Ryan continues to flap his jaws about. The Pats lost a huge lead to the Bills and eventually lost the game. Brady’s Bunch rebounded nicely at Oakland last week and beat a sound Raiders team 31-19.
Gang Green put New England out of the playoffs last year and you know that isn’t sitting well with Bill Bellichick. The Patriot offense might be one of the best ever by seasons end but their defense leaves something to be desired.
Good thing the guy quarterbacking the Jets is Mark Sanchez.
Pats 41 Jets 20
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