It’s the morning of the SEC Opener for the KENTUCKY WILDCATS as they head down to Tuscaloosa to take on a #2 NATIONALLY Ranked ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE that is coming off an emotional beat down of the Georgia Bulldogs.
INJURY NOTES- The Cats also enter the game undefeated, but due to a lack of decent opponents have gotten NO attention going into this game. Coach Rich Brooks confirmed Wednesday after practice that the injured Kentucky players; Michah Johnson, Randall Cobb, and Ricky Lumpkin will make the trip with the team and be available if need be.
GETTING TO KNOW ALABAMA: Through the SEC, people are shocked at the BEATDOWN that Alabama laid on the PRESEASON NATIONAL CHAMPION Georgia Bulldogs on the road. The Alabama hype is high as they are led by a strong offensive and defensive line. Senior Quarterback John Parker Wilson is having a stellar senior campaign as he has 767 yards and 6 touchdowns to have a 136.0 quarterback accuracy rating. To support John Parker down the field, Alabama is TRULY led by a tenatious offensive line that averages over 300 pounds per player. This line has opened up holes for Glenn Coffee and others to run to day light and light up the score board CONSTANTLY.
Once the offense does its job, the DEFENSE can hold the opponents very well. The defense has held opponents to 259 yards per game and shut down the opponent in the opening quarter. ALABAMA has not given up one single point to an opponent all season in the opening quarter of play. Just as the offense is led by stellar play up front, so is the defense. Nose guard Terrence Cody leads the Tides charge up front and forces the opposition into negative plays and rushed passes.
The Cats must play their best game of the year to even compete with this highly talented team. Kentucky is undersized upfront and inexperienced at the key positions of quarterback and receivers. Mike Hartline said Wednesday, “It’s essential to start fast and move the ball on first down.” And it will be even more essential to move the ball period against this tough opponent.
The defense for Kentucky is looking for and needing another stellar performance to keep the team in the game. Thus far, the Wildcats have been stingy on defense, stoppoing opponents and forcing stalled drives at crucial points in the game. This will be the first true test for the defense. They might be nationally rainked now on defense, but the truth will be revealed at 3:30 eastern when the kick is off and the game begins.
KEYS TO VICTORY
1) Kentucky must move the ball in the first drive and score in the first quarter. If the Cats can do this successfully it might begin to rile up the Alabama team. They have not trailed once this entire season and adversity might send shock waves through the Nick Saban squad.
2) The DEFENSE must prove its worth. They are going to be outsized by the pro-sized offensive line that Alabama fields. Therefore, in order for the Cats to put pressure on John Parker Wilson, they must keep the pad level low and win in the trenches.
3) THE ONE TRUE WEAKNESS for Alabama has been special teams coverage units. They rank 10th in the conference in this category. Dickey Lyons and Derrick Locke need to get things going on the special teams to allot Mike Hartline and the offense good starting field positon.
This is a game that the Kentucky Wildcats will show their true colors on. They finally have defeated all the CUPCAKES in their schedule and now enter a stretch of top teams week in and week out.
This week I feel the Wildcats are outmatched in every phase of the game and Nick Saban has this Bama squad looking toward an SEC WEST title. Mike Hartline and the receivers have yet to get on the same page through Septmeber and that too, will be a detriment. Along with the struggles of quarterback to receiver, the O-line hasn’t found much rhythm all season with injuries to Gary Williams and Justin Jefferies last week. The lack of cohesion will be costly to the running game.
OVERALL PREDICTION-
ALABAMA 34 Kentucky 10
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