Football Time in the Bluegrass!
NEWS/NOTES
Kentucky prepares to take on the defending national champions and the current number one team in the land the Florida Gators today. The last time Kentucky faced a number one team was two years ago when the LSU Tigers came to Commonwealth and lost in an overtime thriller. But this is a different day and different time. Kentucky faces a Florida team that they have not beaten in 22 tries, but here is what is in the Cats favor…
--- Sickness is running rampid through the Gator team. Reported late last night was among the 30 players with flu-like symptoms was Florida’s leader Tim Tebow. A less than healthy Tebow only aides in the Wildcats chances for victory.
--Along with sickness, both teams will have to deal with terrible weather. It has rained ALL week in Lexington and according to one player; Commonwealth Stadium has not been tarped in hopes to slow down the Gators when they take the field. A slick field might hurt both teams, but a slick field and wet ball makes this game a crap shoot.
--Earlier this week I was asked, Is Mike Hartline the 2nd best quarterback in the SEC. Right away I thought NO! But as we rattled off the quarterbacks, statistically Hartline is up there. Tebow far and away more superior to everyone in the SEC, but Ole Miss’ Jevan Snead has struggled, Stephen Garcia of South Carolina has looked strong at times but makes mistakes….I see the point, Hartline might be the second best quarterback in the SEC. He will need to progress even more this week and not turn the ball over like he did last week in Kentucky wants to hang in this game.
KEYS TO KENTUCKY VICTORY-
1) Score Touchdowns - Last week Tennessee laid down an outline on how to cause issues for the Gators; hit them hard and play unafraid. But the Vols did not match touchdowns with Florida. Kentucky must match the Gators score for score and NOT settle for field goals. Field goals will not win this game…
2) No TURNOVERS- Last week against Louisville there were an awful lot of mental errors. The special teams unit gave up a touchdown and large gains on kick returns, Mike Hartline fumbled and threw a interception AND Derrick Locke fumbled a kick return. To keep the game close the Cats must play error free.
3) HIT THE GATORS- Tennessee did this well last week and that’s why heading into half, the Vols trailed by just seven at the half. The defense needs to play fearlessly and hit the Gators at every chance…
OVERALL GAME PROJECTION-
Just breaking down this game gets me excited. Commonwealth will be rocking. Earlier this week coach Rich Brooks told the media that his team doesn’t remember the drubbing by the Gators last year. They remember the three straight bowl wins and the LSU overtime win a few years ago. The Cats should go in confident and with a sick Gator squad that is bumped and bruised physically and mentally Florida team headed to the Commonwealth, the game should be closer than Vegas projects but in the end I think Florida has superior talent all over the field and should leave Kentucky unblemished.
FLORIDA- 23 Kentucky 17
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