Kentucky has their new Fantastic Four
With the departure of Mike Hartline, Randall Cobb, Derrick Locke and Chris Matthews, the Wildcats were looking for some players to step up and fill those roles. It appears that has finally happened as Max Smith, Matt Roark, Coshik Williams and LaRod King have all stepped up in the last few weeks and elevated the offense.
I am in in no way comparing Smith and company to Cobb and company; what I am doing is pointing out that the Cats have three consistent producers on the offensive side of the ball. Out of the four new emerging players, only Roark is a senior. Both King and Williams are juniors and Smith, as we all know, is a true freshman. It is important to build on the chemistry, which they seem to have improved in very short amount of time.
Williams has rushed for over 100 yards in the last two out of three games, Roark has surpassed 100 yards of total offense in two games in a row, King has become the deep ball threat that we all imagined him to be and Smith is growing up right before our eyes. A telling stat is that Smith used all three time outs in the first half against Ole Miss but used zero time outs in the second. As the game went along and he got a feel for it, he didn’t need to take the extra time.
The defense was able to perform in ways they have not been able to in any of their SEC games. Instead of going 3 and out almost every series, the offense sustained drives and were able to get first downs. They didn’t score on every possession, but they were getting first downs consistently, allowing the defense extra time to breathe on the sidelines.
It’s all rainbows and bubble gum right now, but there are three SEC games left, two of them on the road. If the Cats can win two out of the next three, then it’s a sixth straight bowl game for the program. Vanderbilt is looming in what was once a push over automatic win. Not this year. The Commodores are a lot tougher than they have been in the past. Let’s see if the new Fantastic Four can keep their mojo churning.
Time to give Credit
As much as I hate to do this, I have to give the Louisville Cardinals some credit. They are now 5-4 in a weak Big East and just beat a top 25 team. They could actually sneak in to a BCS bowl. They still have Pitt, UConn and South Florida left on the schedule, but none of those teams are any good. In fact they are all below .500.
Charlie Strong has his team playing with intensity and focus. They have cut down on penalties and have improved on offense week by week with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback. It will be exciting to see Teddy and Max Smith go back and forth in the coming years.
If the Cardinals do make it to a BCS game, which is actually possible, then the BCS committee will have to think about changing the Big East bid, especially with the conference realignment. Don’t get me wrong, I am impressed with Louisville’s progress, but it’s not like they are playing tough teams. Don’t forget, they lost to Marshall and FIU.
I definitely think the Cards go bowling, just not BCS bowling.
Game of the Century Does not Disappoint
I know it’s been talked about more than any game ever in the history of college football, but I need to say a few more things. First off, to all of the sports writers that made fun of the low score, you are all idiots. This was throw back, smash mouth football at it’s finest. It was a true contest of wills, grit and determination. Neither team wanted to give an inch and it was fitting that overtime was needed to finish the game.
Stanford, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma or Boise State have no shot against either LSU or Alabama. The speed, the size and the strength of those teams are far beyond any other teams in college football. The BCS championship will again reside in the SEC at the end of the season.
Top 10 Poll
The Crimson Tide only dropped one spot. If they win out, and Oklahoma State loses to Oklahoma at the end of the year or in the Big 12 championship, then we will see the LSU/Alabama rematch that everybody wants to see.
1. LSU
2. Oklahoma State
3. Alabama
4. Stanford
5. Boise State
6. Oklahoma
7. Oregon
8. Arkansas
9. Clemson
10. Virginia Tech
The ACC makes a big move and now has two teams in the top 10. Conference count: SEC 3, Big 12 2, ACC 2, Pac 12 2 and Boise State.
Picks
I need to stop picking against Louisville. They are killing me. But I had an awesome week and went 5-1, correctly picking the UK, LSU, OK State, Tennessee and Baltimore Ravens victories.
I am now 34-15 on the year. So hooray for me.
NFL Note: I’m not a fan of either the Steelers or the Ravens, but I really hate the Steelers. I mean, I hate the Steelers as much as I hate the Louisville Cardinals or the New York Yankees. Ben Roethlissburger disgusts me and the Steeler fan base in one of the worst in America. That being said, I love to watch the Steelers play the Ravens every year. The two teams truly hate each other and the game is always guaranteed to be exciting. Last night was not exception as Baltimore barely edged Pittsburgh by three on the road.
The Week to Come
Kentucky tries to get to 5-5 with a trip on the road to Nashville. For the first time in years the Vanderbilt game is in question and it means more now that it has in a very long time. I have faith in the Cats and their new found offensive confidence. Let’s see if Max Smith can continue his stellar play and bring the Cats one game closer to bowl eligibility.
The Cards welcome a struggling Pitt Panther team to the Pizza Box. If Louisville wins this game, they reach the magic number 6 and will be ready to head to a bowl. I shudder at the thought of their fans reactions.
That’s all for me for now. I will be back again at 4 and at midnight. There is a UK basketball game tonight, You see, Monday’s aren’t so bad!
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