Countdown to Kickoff Day 24: #28 Kentucky Wildcats

With Mark Stoops as the head coach of the Wildcats, betting on this team to make a bowl game is just as certain as a brutally hot summer in Florida. It is going to happen and if you don’t see it coming you will be severely disappointed. Six bowl appearances out of the last seven years and two double digit win seasons, Stoops has officially stabilized the Kentucky football program that struggled tremendously before his tenure.

The only issue with winning seven or eight games in a season, is that SEC fans expect more from you, and rightfully so. Kentucky won’t make it to any high end bowl game or an SEC championship but you can bet your butt they will be in a bowl. I think we will see more of the same this year, but maybe more in the years to come.

Last year, Kentucky’s offense halted them from rising to the top, even with now NFL QB, Will Levis under center. I think they will show improvements on this side of the ball this year with Stoops bringing in Liam Coen to call the plays, and NC State transfer, Devin Leary under center. Their receiving core will be one that their opponents fear, and they will have Ray Davis from Vanderbilt in the backfield. Expect the numbers to be higher from this team, but will it be enough?

The Kentucky defense will be business as usual. They were #16 in Pts/Game, #11 in Yards/Game, and had the #7 defense against the pass last year. Brad White’s group will perform at the same level as long as he is there and they will help keep this team in a lot of games.

Prediction: No SEC schedule is “friendly” to say the least, but with Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and a game @ South Carolina on the schedule Kentucky will have to have a stellar season to make it to 8 wins. 7-5