Mike at Card Chronicle has produced this outstanding post analyzing the Governor's Cup game this Sunday. I cannot hope to match his much more in-depth knowledge of the pigskin game, and it also hurts that I only got to listen to about the last 30 minutes of the Governor's Cup game last year (but that turned out to be the most important part). But even given those handicaps, I can hopefully come up with some answers a la Jeopardy to the questions many Wildcat fans should be asking.
So with no further ado, let's play Governor's Cup Jeopardy!
Category: Kentucky -- Answer: Randall Cobb
Question: Who is the Kentucky freshman most likely to make an instant impact on the offense?
Cobb is a multi-dimensional talent who can play football. He can throw, he can catch and he can run. He will see the field somewhere, and he will make an impact on Kentucky's offense.
Category: Louisville -- Answer: Bilal Powell
Question: Who is the Louisville player the Kentucky defense will have the most trouble containing?
Powell is a converted defensive back who came into his own last year against Rutgers, with 13 carries for 91 yards. Powell is an extraordinary athlete that can be devastating once he gets past the line of scrimmage. He is inexperienced, but his raw ability is frightening.
Category: Kentucky/Spelling -- Answer: T-R-E-V-A-R-D
Question: How do you spell the first name of the Wildcat most likely to pick off Hunter Cantwell?
We all know that Trevard Lindley has truly developed into one of the best cover corners in the SEC, and against Louisville's relatively green receiving corps, he should be a wolf among sheep. No disrespect to Louisville, but balls thrown in Lindley's direction are not going to result in good things.
Category: Louisville -- Answer: "L" no.
Question: Will the "Red Out" at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium make any difference at all?
No further comment necessary.
Category: Kentucky -- Answer: Micah Johnson
Question: Who will lead the Kentucky defense in tackles on Sunday?
Micah Johnson is one of the most highly-touted recruits to ever don the Blue and White on defense. Johnson was ranked #36 in the Rivals 100 as a recruit, and is a phenomenal athlete who loves to hit opposing players at high speed. Johnson has been brought along gradually at Kentucky, but now he is ready for his coming-out party, and Louisville (who also heavily recruited him) looks like where it will happen.
Category: Louisville -- Answer: One
Question: How many of the Louisville wide receivers likely to play on Sunday have ever caught a pass in a college game?
Forget proven -- Louisville has exactly one wide receiver likely to play on Sunday who has ever caught a pass in college, and that player is Chris Vaughn. Vaughn is a senior who saw his first action last year (a tribute to the depth and skill of Louisville's receiving corps over the past few years) and caught 2 passes for 11 yards last year. Not exactly Harry Douglas or Mario Urrutia.
As a side note, Trent Guy, who is a proven receiver recovering from a gunshot wound to the back this summer, is currently listed 3rd on the depth chart. He could show up in the game, although I think most followers of football from both schools think it best if he wait a game or two longer before getting back into the action.
Category: Kentucky -- Answer: Two
Question: How many of the Kentucky receivers likely to play on Sunday have ever caught a pass in a college game?
Unless DeMoreo Ford plays, only Dicky Lyons Jr. has ever caught a pass in college. But Dicky has caught roughly six times more (128) by himself than the entire Louisville receiving corps including Trent Guy.
Lyons will be the #1 target for Hartline on Sunday without any doubt, so Louisville will be all over him. That will give Kyrus Lanxter (who now looks ready to go), E.J. Adams (a converted DB) and the freshmen, Matt Roark, Eric Adeyemi and Gene McCaskill a chance to shine.
Category: Louisville/Spelling -- Answer: W-O-O-D-N-Y
Question: How do you spell the first name of the Cardinal player most likely to pick off a Kentucky pass?
Woodny Turenne was a Rivals 5*, #1 ranked player out of junior college. Like Micah Johnson, Turenne is a superb athlete with serious size and speed. He will be a tough match up for any of Kentucky's receivers. Turenne is quite possibly the most talented football player on either of the two squads.
Category: Governor's Cup -- Answer: 1997 and 1998
Question: What is the last time Kentucky beat Louisville back-to-back years?
Of course, those were the heyday of Hal Mumme and the "Air Raid" offense led by the mighty Tim Couch. Unfortunately, that turned out to be fool's gold for Kentucky and led to 7 Louisville victories in the last 9 years, with last year's game breaking a streak of 4 in a row by Louisville, the longest such streak enjoyed by either team since the renewal of the annual game.
Category: Governor's Cup -- Answer: Unknown
Question: Who will be the victor in this year's Governor's Cup game?
Who knows? On paper, it looks to me like Kentucky has an advantage on the defensive line, linebackers, wide receivers, running backs and the kicking game. Louisville has an advantage at quarterback and home field, which are two big ones.
The questions surrounding the young UK offense will be answered only in the game. Louisville's defense was much-maligned last year, but should be better at least when it comes to defending the vertical game. Underneath, Louisville has a whole new set of linebackers, but does Kentucky have the pass catchers to exploit that potential weakness?
Much has been made of the fact that the winner of the ground game usually wins the contest. That would seem to favor Kentucky with their 4-deep stable of backs, but as the first scrimmage proved, the offensive line must step up for the backs to be effective. In the final analysis, there are simply too many unknowns, so we'll just have to wait and see.