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The Kentucky Wildcats will have their hands full this weekend traveling to Tuscaloosa to face the College Football leader Crimson Tide of Alabama. Not to mention, the game will be in primetime on ESPN, kicking off at 7 P.M. Saturday Night.
The number one ranked University of Alabama Opened up on Monday as a 31-point favorite to win the game on Saturday Night. The 31-point spread has now grown to 35 points. Most of you already know this, but, Vegas is very good at what they do. This game may look to be a blowout but, I do believe there is a way for the Cats to come out of Bryant-Denny Stadium victorious. Here are five ways they need to do that.
1. Come out swinging for the fences. If the Cats win the toss, they should elect to receive. If the can do that, maybe get a big Kick return and come out and hit them hard, just maybe, the cats can stun the Tide and get points on the board in the first drive. Maybe force an interception or a fumble. If the cats can do this, and then force Alabama to Punt or even settle for three points and kick the field goal., Maybe then, in my opinion, that would be all you could ask for.
2. Stop Alabama’s treacherous run game! Alabama has two really good running backs this year, in Bo Scarbrough and Kentucky native Damien Harris. Scarbrough has only had 26 rushing attempts for 87 yards, but Harris, on the other hand, has carried the ball 40 times for 345 yards and one touchdown for the Tide. Harris Is a native of Berea, Kentucky who almost came to Kentucky. Harris played for Madison Southern in high school. The One advantage Kentucky may have is, Harris’ ankle was sprained last week against Kent State. Harris is expected to play, but, do expect him to be moving a little slow when he does play.
3. Stephen Johnson has to keep leading. Johnson has completed 29 of his first 44 passes as a wildcat after becoming the eventual started for the vats after Barker was injured against New Mexico State. Johnson has played well since becoming the go-to guy for the Wildcats. It looks like the players respond well to his leadership skills and toughness on the field. Johnson will definitely take a few hard shots in this game, so he will have to be prepared and ready to keep that toughness going if he wants to be victorious against that explosive Crimson Tide Defense.
4. Take advantage of being overlooked. With Alabama Facing the Arkansas Razorbacks who is ranked 20th in the nation next week, some would say that the tide is overlooking the cats this week. I somewhat disagree as Saban should know better. They know Kentucky is going to come out ready to play, but, self-consciously they will be overlooking UK just a bit. The cats need to take advantage of this while the opportunity presents itself.
5. Run Forrest Run. Kentucky has found their missing piece. This missing piece is true freshman; Benny Snell. Snell has played in the previous two games for the Cats; he is averaging 104.5 yards in the two games. Snell also took over the game against South Carolina on their 4th quarter go-ahead touchdown drive. Doesn’t two pieces make a whole? That’s exactly right, and the Kentucky Wildcats have figured that out. The cats will also use Junior standout running back, Stanley "BOOM" Williams. Boom has been the starting running back in all four games thus far; he will start game number five Saturday Night against the Tide. Williams is averaging eight yards per carry so far this season. Williams has run the ball 58 times for 464 yards and scoring two touchdowns so far. Williams is already to the halfway mark of how many yards he had all last season (855).
The cats have a very slim chance of upsetting the Tide, but if they are going to do it, I believe this is how it will be done.
My Hopeful Prediction: Kentucky 35 Alabama 28
Real Prediction: Kentucky 10 Alabama 42