Kentucky Wildcats Football: My look at the 2013 season and predictions
By Paul Jordan
Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
OCTOBER 5, 2013 – TBA
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks are an intriguing team and are built from the lines out. South Carolina boasts one of the top defensive lines in college football and they return four starters on the offensive line and have a ton of young depth. They say that the games are won in the trenches and South Carolina is solid here. Much like Florida though, they lost a ton of talent but Spurrier has recruited well and has a ton of talent to plug-in the holes. And there are a lot of spots to be filled.
To begin with, Spurrier is missing his top five linebackers from last season and no LB returns with more than five tackles. The Gamecocks are in desperate need of playmakers as they are replacing their top two RB’s from last season and Ace Sanders left early for the NFL and TE Justice Cunningham has departed as well. Plus Connor Shaw was not spectacular last year. Throw in some glaring departures in the defensive backfield and you have some pundits thinking that the Gamecocks could really struggle this season.
Not me. The Gamecocks got a real gift in scheduling with no Alabama, Texas A&M, or LSU this year and no one is better at developing talent than Spurrier. There is a chance that Kentucky could make this interesting, but it’s not like the Gamecocks don’t have talent on the team. Plus this game is on the road. By week five, South Carolina should be gelling. South Carolina 31 Kentucky 10.
Mandatory Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
OCTOBER 12, 2013 – TIME TBA
LEXINGTON, KY
Alabama returns 14 starters from last season and still has AJ McCarron, Amari Cooper, CJ Mosley and Adrian Hubbard. And Nick Saban. In a way, it’s only fitting that the two-time defending national champs are on the schedule this year as UK has the toughest schedule in the nation. Saban does have some challenges this year, such as replacing three offensive and three defensive linemen, but Saban has recruited for this. It’s just a matter of plugging new players in and waiting for them to gel.
The chink in Bama’s armour could be if TJ Yeldon gets injured, as Alabama needs to find a viable backup. Never fear though. Alabama has a monster class of freshmen coming in and could have the best and deepest RB corps in the conference. So much for chinks in the armour. Alabama 41 Kentucky 17
Jan 01, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Tyler Russell (17) is helped by offensive lineman Dillon Day (63) as he stays on the field after being injured on the play during the second half of the Gator Bowl against the Northwestern Wildcats at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
10/24/2013 – 7:30 PM
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
Last year was a tale of two seasons for the Bulldogs. After steamrolling to a 7-0 start against mostly inferior opponents, reality and the SEC West sunk in and the Bulldogs closed 1-5. After three straight bowl seasons, Dan Mullen has perhaps his most challenging season in Starkville. The fact that the Ole Miss Rebels have emerged under Hugh Freeze could put some pressure on him if the Bulldogs stumble out of the gate.
The Bulldogs return just 11 starters and have massive holes in the WR and CB positions. RB LaDarius Perkins is the leading returning receiver with 160 yards last year, and QB Tyler Russell will have to improve and become more consistent. When they are on though, Perkins and Russell make a great tandem at running the ball. On the plus side, the Bulldogs are stacked on the OL line and the defensive front seven is solid, even with all the departures.
Make no mistake, this could be an upset alert game for UK on the road. The Bulldogs will be coming off a game against Bowling week and a bye week and have South Carolina and Texas A&M on the schedule right after UK. So it is possible that the Bulldogs can overlook a UK team in the midst of a murderous schedule. Mark it on your calendar as a game to watch, but for now, I’m calling it: Mississippi State 28 Kentucky 24.
ALABAMA STATE HORNETS
11/2/2013 – TIME TBA
LEXINGTON, KY
Finally, Kentucky gets a break on the schedule and the FCS Hornets should be a good tune-up for the hopefully improving Wildcats. The Hornets finished 7-4 last year and are a favorite for the SWAC East Title. The Hornets also have seven players on the SWAC All Conference preseason team, so they are not devoid of talent. I look for Kentucky to improve as the season goes on and this will be a welcome game after the murderous slate thus far. Kentucky 41 Alabama State 17