The Rumble at the River

Kentucky V Miami(OH)
Rumble At The River

CATS KEYS TO VICTORY
OFFENSE
1) Mike Hartline must assert himself as the leader- Well, the Blue Grass Nation isn’t sold on the junior quarterback and still some feel that the Cats best chance to win will be by inserting one of their two true freshmen into the position. However, Rich Brooks has put all his confidence in Hartline to be the starter. Hartline NEEDS a solid performance against a Red Hawk team that last year was at the bottom of their conference giving up 396 yards a game and nearly 33 points.
2) Score Early- Last year Kentucky’s Achilles heel was that they feel behind teams early in games. In fact, the Wildcats were outscored overall 34 to 101in the first quarter. The Red Hawks weren’t that much better as they too got off to slow starts last season being outscored 20 to 84. It will be key for the Kentucky offense to click early. This Miami team will come out with a lot of confidence and wanting to bring on the Mike Haywood era with a victory. The best way to stomp their enthusiasm is to score first and keep scoring early in the game.
3) WILDCAT FORMATION-Last year, true freshman Randall Cobb began the season at receiver and when Mike Hartline was not getting the job done, he took on the quarterback roll. This year Rich Brooks has made it clear, Randall Cobb will NOT play quarterback. He will however, run the Wildcat formation. The Wildcat formation will the Cats a chance to change the pace and flow of the game with one play and give a new dynamic to an offense that was in need of a change of pace last season.

DEFENSE
1) Stop Miami Playmakers- You see the stats of last year’s Red Hawk team and don’t really feel fearful of their offensive prowess. But, this team returns their top 4 skill players. The Red Hawks have a lot of
2) Big Plays- This year the Wildcat defense returns two preseason ALL SEC players on the defensive side of the ball. In the middle, linebacker Micah Johnson should be able to command the middle of the field, make the right calls and stop the Red Hawk ball carriers. At corner, Trevard Lindley should be able to shut down Miami’s top receiving threat. Lindley is on the watch list for the Nagurski, Berdnark, and Jim Thorpe awards. Although, football is a team game, these two players stayed one more season in the bluegrass to lift their name recognition and one great game at a time they should be able to.

Around College Football- Week 1

College Football Week 1
ACC
Florida State(#18) Over Miami
BIG TEN
Michigan Over Western Michigan
BIG 12
Oklahoma(#3) Over BYU(#20)
BIG EAST
Cincinnati Over Rutgers

Week One in the SEC

Just like last year I will be bringin you weekly projections for SEC games as well a key game per conference.

Today is the start of college football. I am heading down to Cincinnati to cover the "Rumble by the River".

Later tonight, I will post up a post game and some pictures of the game...it is supposed to be a big one up in Cincinnati.

Anyways here is what should happen around the SEC this weekend.

SEC WEEK 1
South Carolina @ N.C State- The Gamecocks kick off the college football weekend with a match up against a regional rival. N.C State is in a down year so South Carolina should have an edge….not too high on the Gamecocks this year, so this game should be close
WINNER- South Carolina…usc 7-3(W)

Charleston Southern @ FLORIDA(1)- The Gators begin defending their national championship against a school that might lose 100-0. It will be interesting to see just how many touchdowns Tim Tebow has to open the season in another Heisman hopeful year.
WINNER- Florida

GEORGIA (13) @ Oklahoma State (11) - Tough game for the Dawgs to open the season. I don’t see how a team that has to replace leaders at quarterback, running back, and receiver will play well enough to win in such a hostile environment this early in the season.
WINNER- Oklahoma State

Western Kentucky @ Tennessee- The Volunteers open the Lane Kiffin era with a game with the Hilltoppers. Should be a easy one for the Vols before next weeks revenge game verse UCLA. Keep an eye on how Jonathon Crompton plays, his progression will be key for the Volunteers success this season.
WINNER- Tennessee

Western Carolina @ Vanderbilt- The Commodores, off a bowl season host a team from the Southern Conference. The Dores should leave this game with a win and some confidence. All they can really hope for is confidence, next week they head to Baton Rouge.
WINNER- Vanderbilt

Kentucky @ Miami(OH)- The Wildcats head to Cincinnati in a game deemed; “The Rumble by the River.” Kentucky has won back to back opening games and holds the 2nd longest active streak for nonconference wins with 14. Look for the Cats to win handily over a Redhawk team that is in rebuilding mode with a new coach and a new system.
WINNER- Kentucky

Ole Miss(10) @ Memphis- Everyone will be gunning for the Rebels this year as they start the season with a non conference regional rivalry game @ Memphis. Look for Jevan Snead to have a strong first game as he looks to be in the Heisman race this coming season.
WINNER- OLE Miss

Alabama(5) vs Viginia Tech(7)- In the Chic Fila A opening game in held in Atlanta last year, the Crimson Tide upset a Clemson team which had their eyes set on a Nation Title run. This year the Tide will be the hunted and surprise no one. Virginia Tech grew up last year and now is one of the more veteran teams in the ACC. It will be hard for the Tide to replace two All Americans on the offensive line and their senior quarterback from a year ago so early….
WINNER- Virginia Tech

LSU(9) @ Washington- Traditionally LSU doesn’t like to travel to BCS conference schools in their non conference schedule. I am not sure if you can really count Washington a BCS school, as last year they went 0-12 and now have a new coach, new system, and start from ground zero. The Tigers enter this year with little hype….that will change as the season comes along.
WINNER- LSU

Missouri State @ Arkansas- The Razorbacks have some hope to return to bowl eligibility this season as they open the season with a tune up game against a Missouri Valley Conference team. Key thing to watch early is how strong the defense plays, they return 10 players from last years unit and should rise to be one of the top defenses in the SEC this year.
WINNER- Arkansas

Louisiana Tech @ Auburn- After the hiring, Gene Chizik was booed from the airport. In his opening game, he should be cheered as the Tigers open up with a very winnable and dominatable game. The Tigers have a new offensive system in place, and that should be an interesting thing to watch because last year their offense was TERRIBLE.
WINNER- Auburn

Jackson State @ Mississippi State- Two years removed from a bowl winning the season, the Bulldogs are starting over. Their opening game should be a nice win for their confidence.
WINNER- Mississippi State

Justin's Preseason Top 25

Pre Season Top 25
1) Florida
2) Texas
3) USC
4) Oklahoma
5) Ohio State
6) Alabama
7) Virginia Tech
8) Ole Miss
9) LSU
10) Penn State
11) Oklahoma State
12) Georgia
13) California
14) Georgia Tech
15) Boise State
16) TCU
17) Nebraska
18) Oregon
19) Oregon State
20) Iowa
21) Notre Dame
22) Florida State
23) Pittsburgh
24) North Carolina
25) BYU

2009 Way Too Early Bowl Projections...

2009 Bowl Season
BCS National Title- Florida v Texas
Orange Bowl- Rutgers v Florida State
Fiesta Bowl- Oklahoma State v TCU
Rose Bowl- USC v Ohio State
Sugar Bowl- Ole Miss v Notre Dame
Capital One- LSU v Penn State
Outback Bowl- Northwestern v Tennessee
Cotton Bowl- Alabama v Oklahoma
Gator Bowl- Nebraska v Georgia Tech
Chic-Fil-A Bowl- Georgia v Virginia Tech
Music City Bowl- Kentucky v North Carolina
Insight Bowl- Michigan v Colorado
Sun Bowl- Oregon v South Florida
Indepdence Bowl- Auburn v Kansas
Liberty Bowl- Arkansas v East Carolina
Holiday Bowl- California v Texas Tech
Emerald Bowl- Stanford v Clemson
Alamo Bowl- Michigan State v Kansas
Meineke Bowl- Pittsburgh v Boston College
Champs Sports Bowl- Miami (FL) v Iowa
Poinsettia Bowl- Arizona State v UTEP
Papa John’s Bowl- Cincinnati v Tulsa
GMAC Bowl- Akron v Wake Forest
Hawaii Bowl- UCLA v Air Force
Las Vegas Bowl- Arizona v Utah
Humanitarian Bowl- Oregon State v Boise State
Armed Forces Bowl- Houston v Army
Motor City Bowl- Minnesota v Central Michigan
Texas Bowl- West Virginia v Texas A and M
New Orleans Bowl- Southern Mississippi v Troy
St Petersberg Bowl- Florida Atlantic v Western Michigan
International Bowl- Ohio v Louisville
New Mexico Bowl- Colorado State v Louisiana Tech
Eagle Bank Bowl- Navy v Wake Forest

Florida Gators

Florida Gators
It’s a Tim Tebow world and college football is living in it. After two championships in three years, the Florida Gators are the preseason #1 team and have their eyes set on another National Title. To defend their title, the Gators return 11 on defense and the top player in college football maybe ever, Tim Tebow. This looks to be a special year in Gainesville and if all goes according to plan, the Gators might be the one winning it all again when all is said and done.

OFFENSE
Entering the season the Gators return their top rusher and top passer---Tim Tebow. The Gators with Tebow should be a force alone, but they do add experience at line. The line averages a monstrous 318 pounds per player and should hold their ground against the top SEC defenses. The question entering fall camp is how the receivers will do without their top 2 contributors from last year. The running game led by Demps and Rainy last year also need filled as both players are gone. The offense will be solidily Tim Tebow and through the past three years he’s proven that is enough to dominate most of the competition.

DEFENSE
What is scary about the returning national champions is the defense. Returning 11 from a national champion is unheard of!! The Gator defense will be led by first team All American middle line backer Brandon Spikes. Spikes led the team last year in tackles with 93, was second on the team with interceptions with 4, and added two sacks to an impressive statistical season. Leading the line will be the Gators sack master Carlos Dunlap. As a sophomore last year, Dunlap sacked the quarterback 9.5 times and should once again give SEC offenses headaches. The secondary also returns all four starters. Last season they entered the year all being underclassmen and now, with that year of experience, the Gators should be able to shut down opponents passing game well, too.

SEASONAL PROJECTIONS

The Gators return experience, a great coach, and what might end up to be the greatest college football player ever. Tim Tebow has his sights set on becoming the first player in a very long time to win the Heisman twice and to add another National title to his resume would not be that bad either. Other than experience, the Gators host rivals Tennessee, Florida State, and Georgia(‘neutral’…in Jacksonville, FL). The game which the Gators must watch out for is in Baton Rouge October 10. The Gators have not won in Death Valley their past 2 trips. I project the Gators to not stumble much this season and end the season where it is going to be started---as the best team in the country.

12-0