Game day, folks. It's time for Kentucky to take on their most bitter rival in every sport, the Louisville Cardinals. Here are the particulars of this contest:
LOUISVILLE at KENTUCKY
When: Noon; Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, Ky.
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Big Blue Sports Network
I'll be opening this thread about 30 minutes early in order to give everyone time to get hyped and talk about the big matchup. The line for this game, according to Vegas Insider, is between Kentucky -13 to -13.5. So the pros think UK is going to win this one by almost two touchdowns. I wish I could muster as much confidence.
But truthfully, there are good reasons to be confident, the biggest one being that UK has many players who have played together before, and a coaching staff that has mostly been together for years. Louisville, on the other hand, has many new coaches and many new players, most notably a quarterback who is starting only his second game as the man at the top of the depth chart.
Advantage/Disadvantage:
- Offensive line -- UK big
- Defensive line -- UK
- Offensive backfield -- UK small
- Defensive backfield -- UK Big
Wide receivers -- U of L, small - Special teams -- U of L, small
- Coaching -- UK
Kentucky vs. Louisville Statistical Comparison | ||||
Statistic | Kentucky | Opponents | Louisville | Opponents |
Scoring: Points/Game | 42.0 | 0.0 | 30.0 | 10.0 |
Scoring: Games - Points | 1 - 42 | 1 - 0 | 1 - 30 | 1 - 10 |
First Downs: Total | 29 | 10 | 22 | 7 |
First Downs: Rushing - Passing - By Penalty | 16 - 10 - 3 | 3 - 7 - 0 | 8 - 11 - 3 | 1 - 5 - 1 |
Rushing: Yards / Attempt | 5.00 | 2.82 | 5.87 | 0.61 |
Rushing: Attempts - Yards - TD | 49 - 245 - 3 | 22 - 62 - 0 | 30 - 176 - 3 | 31 - 19 - 1 |
Passing: Rating | 151.66 | 57.61 | 104.03 | 51.85 |
Passing: Yards | 243 | 126 | 243 | 82 |
Passing: Attempts - Completions - Interceptions - TD | 31 - 20 - 0 - 2 | 34 - 13 - 2 - 0 | 35 - 20 - 2 - 0 | 21 - 10 - 3 - 0 |
Total Offense: Yards / Play | 6.1 | 3.4 | 6.4 | 1.9 |
Total Offense: Plays - Yards | 80 - 488 | 56 - 188 | 65 - 419 | 52 - 101 |
Punt Returns: Yards / Return | 9.50 | 13.50 | 13.33 | 0.00 |
Punt Returns: Returns - Yards - TD | 4 - 38 - 0 | 2 - 27 - 0 | 3 - 40 - 0 | 1 - 0 - 0 |
Kickoff Returns: Yards / Return | - | 13.86 | 33.33 | 20.43 |
Kickoff Returns: Returns - Yards - TD | 0 - 0 - 0 | 7 - 97 - 0 | 3 - 100 - 0 | 7 - 143 - 0 |
Punting: Yards / Punt | 44.50 | 36.90 | 37.00 | 41.00 |
Punting: Punts - Yards | 4 - 178 | 10 - 369 | 3 - 111 | 5 - 205 |
Interceptions: Returns - Yards - TD | 2 - 67 - 1 | 0 - 0 - 0 | 3 - 7 - 0 | 2 - 25 - 0 |
Fumbles: Number - Lost | 2 - 0 | 1 - 0 | 0 - 0 | 1 - 1 |
Penalties: Number - Yards | 3 - 20 | 5 - 40 | 14 - 128 | 9 - 74 |
Time of Possession / Game | 36:25.00 | 23:35.00 | 31:15.00 | 28:45.00 |
3rd Down Conversions: Conversion % | 61.11% | 13.33% | 11.11% | 43.75% |
3rd Down Conversions: Attempts - Conversions | 18 - 11 | 15 - 2 | 9 - 1 | 16 - 7 |
4th Down Conversions: Conversion % | 0% | 100% | - | - |
4th Down Conversions: Attempts - Conversions | 1 - 0 | 1 - 1 | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 |
Red Zone: Success % | 75% | 0% | 75% | 100% |
Red Zone: Attempts - Scores | 4 - 3 | 1 - 0 | 8 - 6 | 2 - 2 |
Field Goals: Success % | 0% | 0% | 75% | 100% |
Field Goals: Attempts - Made | 1 - 0 | 1 - 0 | 4 - 3 | 1 - 1 |
PAT Kicking: Success % | 100% | - | 100% | 100% |
PAT Kicking: Attempts - Made | 6 - 6 | 0 - 0 | 3 - 3 | 1 - 1 |
2-Point Conversions: Success % | - | - | - | - |
2-Point Conversions: Attempts - Made | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 - 0 |
I have highlighted the stats that seem important, even though with only a game each against weak foes, it's hard to say they matter at all, so your mileage may vary on statistical usefulness this early in the season. But there it is for your viewing pleasure.
Overall, I think UK is looking good in this game, but I always get very nervous about rivalry games. Rivalry games can really surprise you, and I would hate to have an unpleasant surprise this early in the year.
Rich Brooks really likes this team, which gives me great confidence. UK does have quality players at most positions and better depth at almost every position than they have in years. If Kentucky is to succeed in the SEC this year, it must show that it can win the games it is supposed to win, and no matter what my nerves tell me, this is definitely one of them. A two-touchdown favorite is a big favorite.
The time is here. The rivalry is renewed, and it's time to put on the whole armor of the Big Blue Nation and sally forth into battle. Let's go, Big Blue Faithful -- support your team!
Go, 'Cats!!