Kentucky Game Discussion

#1
McCat

McCat

Rent free in your head
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#1
OK, guys, it's Kentucky week, so let's have serious discussion without too much smack or "we suck" comments.

Here are some of my thoughts on the game:

UT opened as a 5-point favorite, in my opinion, due to several factors:
1. It's a home game.
2. It's Senior Day/CPF Day.
3. Much to their credit, Tennessee showed some resilience against Vandy. They haven't quit because they don't wan't to wear the "worst UT team ever" label.
4. The 23 game losing streak is a very difficult thing to overcome mentally.
5. Kentucky, although off a bye week, is very banged up. Several of its stars on offense and defense will not play. In addition, UK does not traditionally play well after a bye week.

And here are some key things that will decide the game:

1. Who starts at QB for UT? If it's Coleman, can UK rattle him?
2. Which UK team will show up? A slow start will doom them. Let UT get up 2 touchdowns, and their confidence rises, and on a day like CPF Day, Orange wins. On the other hand, if UK scores twice, Neyland could very well empty out.
3. Kentucky MUST stop the run. Creer looked pretty good against Vandy, and Foster is always a danger.
4. UT must find a way to get in UK QB Randall Cobb's head. He's young, and this trip back home could get him a little too jacked up.
5. Kentucky must NOT challenge Eric Berry. Period.
6. Tennessee must NOT challenge CB Trevard Lindley, either.
7. Special teams play. It decided last year's game, and very well could decide this year's.

X-Factor: the crowd. Will UK fans show up en masse, snapping up the unpurchased student tickets? How many UT fans will come out to see Fulmer off?

Over/Under for the times that Rocky Top is played: 26.

Bottom line, my heart says UK by a touchdown, but my head says that UT comes away with #24 in a row and carries Fulmer off the field.

I'm looking forward to the trip- it will be my first visit to Neyland.
:good!:
 
#2
#2
Very well put. Unfortunately you'll still get a lot of "we suck" comments. The game will hinge on the O-line for both teams. If either line can protect and open running lanes, it's going to be difficult to stop the bleeding. Now if BOTH teams get good O-line play it could be a helluva game that is decided by the QB.
 
#3
#3
I would really like to win, not so much to keep the silly streak alive, but to see Fulmer go out with a victory. I sincerely doubt it, though. 10 points of our victory last week came thanks to the defense. I don't know if we'll be so lucky again.
 
#4
#4
I think it all hinges on Tennessee's ground game and the atmosphere at Neyland Stadium. If the crowd is fired up to show Phil off in style I really feel that the guys on the field will feed off of it. If the backs can give us 5+ yards on 1st down, it will take a lot of pressure off of the qb and the last thing our qb's need is pressure. I realize that 5+ yards a carry on 1st down is reaching but I really think that is what it is going to take. If we fall behind early and have to start putting the ball up; Kentucky ends the streak in blowout fashion.
 
#5
#5
Bring an improvised weapon of some manner. You might win and the outpouring of grief fueled rage in Neyland could become ugly. Suggestion: Reversible jacket, blue on the outside and lovely orange on the inside. Do not dull your senses! Your instincts and the scoreboard will alert you to the proper time for a trip to the bathroom for a quick change of colors, instant incognito.

Potential mission compromising pitfalls include the inability to wipe that Kentucky grin off of your face as the clock ticks away.
 
#6
#6
Many good points, well put. One thing, I don't think it's possible to not challenge Eric Berry, he's everywhere. You mentioned the streak is a hard thing to overcome, the mental part of this game could be the most important. UT has produced bad play and UK has been very inconsistent. Which teams will show up, no one knows.

If UK doesn't win this year, I don't know if they ever will. As much as I want the streak to end, if it's going to end, I would rather it end this year than in a year when UT needs a win to get into a championship game or something like that.

I don't know if UK fans will buy up all the unused tickets, but I do think that there will be more UK fans than usual at this game.
 
#7
#7
Brian McCat said:
OK, guys, it's Kentucky week, so let's have serious discussion without too much smack or "we suck" comments.

Here are some of my thoughts on the game:

UT opened as a 5-point favorite, in my opinion, due to several factors:
1. It's a home game.
2. It's Senior Day/CPF Day.
3. Much to their credit, Tennessee showed some resilience against Vandy. They haven't quit because they don't wan't to wear the "worst UT team ever" label.
4. The 23 game losing streak is a very difficult thing to overcome mentally.
5. Kentucky, although off a bye week, is very banged up. Several of its stars on offense and defense will not play. In addition, UK does not traditionally play well after a bye week.

And here are some key things that will decide the game:

1. Who starts at QB for UT? If it's Coleman, can UK rattle him?
2. Which UK team will show up? A slow start will doom them. Let UT get up 2 touchdowns, and their confidence rises, and on a day like CPF Day, Orange wins. On the other hand, if UK scores twice, Neyland could very well empty out.3. Kentucky MUST stop the run. Creer looked pretty good against Vandy, and Foster is always a danger.
4. UT must find a way to get in UK QB Randall Cobb's head. He's young, and this trip back home could get him a little too jacked up.
5. Kentucky must NOT challenge Eric Berry. Period.
6. Tennessee must NOT challenge CB Trevard Lindley, either.
7. Special teams play. It decided last year's game, and very well could decide this year's.

X-Factor: the crowd. Will UK fans show up en masse, snapping up the unpurchased student tickets? How many UT fans will come out to see Fulmer off?

Over/Under for the times that Rocky Top is played: 26.

Bottom line, my heart says UK by a touchdown, but my head says that UT comes away with #24 in a row and carries Fulmer off the field.

I'm looking forward to the trip- it will be my first visit to Neyland.
:good!:
Click to expand...


This is by far the key as I see it. So many games this season TN has let a team jump on us early and we haven't let our strong D dictate the game it's only been able to keep us close. With all the emotions that come with this game I think we will have a good idea of the type of game it will be after the 1st quarter...my call, we have a couple of decent drives and stuff KY two possesions before we punch the first TD in at the start of the 2nd quarter, which send Neyland into a frenzy as it will be our first lead at home in months...:dance2::rock:
 
#8
#8
No way we should be 5 point favorites, the streak is over unless our defense can outscore UK's offense, if we can run the ball we got a shot, but Kentucky will be fired up and I dont think they're all that banged up on D
 
#9
#9
trbonevol said:
many good points, well put. One thing, i don't think it's possible to not challenge eric berry, he's everywhere. You mentioned the streak is a hard thing to overcome, the mental part of this game could be the most important. Ut has produced bad play and uk has been very inconsistent. Which teams will show up, no one knows.

If uk doesn't win this year, i don't know if they ever will. As much as i don't want the streak to end, if it's going to end, i would rather it end this year than in a year when ut needs a win to get into a championship game or something like that.

I don't know if uk fans will buy up all the unused tickets, but i do think that there will be more uk fans than usual at this game.
Click to expand...

fyp
 
#10
#10
Brian McCat said:
OK, guys, it's Kentucky week, so let's have serious discussion without too much smack or "we suck" comments.

Here are some of my thoughts on the game:

UT opened as a 5-point favorite, in my opinion, due to several factors:
1. It's a home game.
2. It's Senior Day/CPF Day.
3. Much to their credit, Tennessee showed some resilience against Vandy. They haven't quit because they don't wan't to wear the "worst UT team ever" label.
4. The 23 game losing streak is a very difficult thing to overcome mentally.
5. Kentucky, although off a bye week, is very banged up. Several of its stars on offense and defense will not play. In addition, UK does not traditionally play well after a bye week.

And here are some key things that will decide the game:

1. Who starts at QB for UT? If it's Coleman, can UK rattle him?
2. Which UK team will show up? A slow start will doom them. Let UT get up 2 touchdowns, and their confidence rises, and on a day like CPF Day, Orange wins. On the other hand, if UK scores twice, Neyland could very well empty out.
3. Kentucky MUST stop the run. Creer looked pretty good against Vandy, and Foster is always a danger.
4. UT must find a way to get in UK QB Randall Cobb's head. He's young, and this trip back home could get him a little too jacked up.
5. Kentucky must NOT challenge Eric Berry. Period.
6. Tennessee must NOT challenge CB Trevard Lindley, either.
7. Special teams play. It decided last year's game, and very well could decide this year's.

X-Factor: the crowd. Will UK fans show up en masse, snapping up the unpurchased student tickets? How many UT fans will come out to see Fulmer off?

Over/Under for the times that Rocky Top is played: 26.

Bottom line, my heart says UK by a touchdown, but my head says that UT comes away with #24 in a row and carries Fulmer off the field.

I'm looking forward to the trip- it will be my first visit to Neyland.
:good!:
Click to expand...

Didn't UK beat #1 LSU last year after a bye week?
The fact that UF, UGA, SC, and UK all had byes before UT was a joke - better for it to happen in a year when UT isn't going anywhere though.

The over/under on lineman that it would take to carry CPF, if UT wins and that happens, is 3.
 
#11
#11
GoBigOrange86 said:
I would really like to win, not so much to keep the silly streak alive, but to see Fulmer go out with a victory. I sincerely doubt it, though. 10 points of our victory last week came thanks to the defense. I don't know if we'll be so lucky again.
Click to expand...

I put more more emphasis on the silly streak, plus avoiding the eighth loss, than any face-saving Phil might enjoy.
 
#12
#12
billbattle said:
I put more more emphasis on the silly streak, plus avoiding the eighth loss, than any face-saving Phil might enjoy.
Click to expand...

The end of the streak and an eighth loss, while disappointing if they were to come about, are ultimately meaningless. I feel no need to beat my chest about either should we win on Saturday. While there are many who would don't care one way or the other about Fulmer, I would at least like to see a man who gave so much to UT leave Neyland with a victory.
 
#14
#14
GoBigOrange86 said:
The end of the streak and an eighth loss, while disappointing if they were to come about, are ultimately meaningless. I feel no need to beat my chest about either should we win on Saturday. While there are many who would don't care one way or the other about Fulmer, I would at least like to see a man who gave so much to UT leave Neyland with a victory.
Click to expand...

I felt the same way a few weeks ago. But Phil's conduct and the things he has said have soured things for me. I would have respected the man more if he had seen the handwriting on the wall and taken the high road for the benefit of the program.
 
#15
#15
Just like last week folks.....That was Vandy and this is still just Kentucky. UT wins......The kitty cats can try and break the streak again next year.....and the year after...and the year after....................
 
#16
#16
Oh lord, We are actually discussing Kentucky week????...Man oh man how badly have We fallen....I feel sick
 
#22
#22
hard to swallow the offense looking worse than it did vs vandy.
good teams find ways to win even when their O is playing bad. I'm aware we are not a good team......

but...the boys found a way to win over Vandy and maybe that can spark a win over Ky and atleast a decent last 2 weeks of the season.
I would like to see Phil go out with a win for all he has done for UT.
 
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