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How important is the Tennessee Game?
Posted on 11/8/14 at 9:21 pm
Posted on 11/8/14 at 9:21 pm
Pretty important I would say. Starting 5-1, even with the low expectations and then not making a bowl would stink.
Two chances left, two winnable games, but very easily losable games too.
Need to put together one complete game in the next two weeks, good offense, solid defense and at least mediocre play on special teams. Oh and the one complete game has to come in one game only, not half of each game.
While my original forecast for this team was 4-8 and 5 wins is awesome, the inability to make a bowl game would be a huge letdown for the coaches/players/fans.
Two chances left, two winnable games, but very easily losable games too.
Need to put together one complete game in the next two weeks, good offense, solid defense and at least mediocre play on special teams. Oh and the one complete game has to come in one game only, not half of each game.
While my original forecast for this team was 4-8 and 5 wins is awesome, the inability to make a bowl game would be a huge letdown for the coaches/players/fans.
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Posted on 11/9/14 at 1:10 pm to kywildcatfanone
I think it's important to both teams and that aspect could make it one of the better games being played that weekend. There's a lot for each team to play for.
That said, there's one thing I saw that gives UT a major advantage over UK - this will be the Cats 8th straight game without a bye and that's positively brutal for any team let alone one with youth and depth issues. In contrast, we just had our bye and we have similar youth and depth issues that were starting to really show on our defense the past two games (our defense had been stellar all year but just flat against Bama and USC). We're hoping that will get defense back to normal - we had guys taking 80+ snaps against USC (and pretty much all year) because there just isn't any depth on our D.
If the bye doesn't fix our D's sudden issues, UK will make us pay for it and the Cats are fully capable of that.
Best case scenario for me (I want both teams eligible): Vols win but UK plays a good game, takes some positive energy into their bye week, comes out fresh and beats Louisville to get bowl eligible. While the Vols continue their Nov. sweep. Both teams go bowling and brighter days are on the horizon for the two programs.
Also, I have a strong feeling that Louisville is a very winnable game for the Cats this year - I think this is the best chance for a road win and not just because I'm being a UT homer. Even though it's a road game, the Cats will be coming off a bye and well rested with a bowl game to play for. I can see UK getting the upset and the bowl (Louisville is ranked lower than Mizzou and UT via Sagarin which controls for strength of schedule and accounts for how a team actually plays among other factors).
That all said, I'm nervously looking forward to the game between us.
That said, there's one thing I saw that gives UT a major advantage over UK - this will be the Cats 8th straight game without a bye and that's positively brutal for any team let alone one with youth and depth issues. In contrast, we just had our bye and we have similar youth and depth issues that were starting to really show on our defense the past two games (our defense had been stellar all year but just flat against Bama and USC). We're hoping that will get defense back to normal - we had guys taking 80+ snaps against USC (and pretty much all year) because there just isn't any depth on our D.
If the bye doesn't fix our D's sudden issues, UK will make us pay for it and the Cats are fully capable of that.
Best case scenario for me (I want both teams eligible): Vols win but UK plays a good game, takes some positive energy into their bye week, comes out fresh and beats Louisville to get bowl eligible. While the Vols continue their Nov. sweep. Both teams go bowling and brighter days are on the horizon for the two programs.
Also, I have a strong feeling that Louisville is a very winnable game for the Cats this year - I think this is the best chance for a road win and not just because I'm being a UT homer. Even though it's a road game, the Cats will be coming off a bye and well rested with a bowl game to play for. I can see UK getting the upset and the bowl (Louisville is ranked lower than Mizzou and UT via Sagarin which controls for strength of schedule and accounts for how a team actually plays among other factors).
That all said, I'm nervously looking forward to the game between us.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 7:51 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
While my original forecast for this team was 4-8 and 5 wins is awesome, the inability to make a bowl game would be a huge letdown for the coaches/players/fans.
I feel it'll only be a huge letdown when we step back and really look at where the team is compared to last season IF there's not a maximum effort from the players and the staff. And I truly believe if they give that then they have a good shot in the last two.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 7:58 pm to Prof
quote:
Prof
There is something to be said for the sweet taste defeating UL in Louisville and it making UK bowl eligible. Would make the state explode. 
Personally I would prefer to get bowl eligibility out of the way this week, but we will see. Should be a fun game.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 7:59 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
IF there's not a maximum effort from the players and the staff. And I truly believe if they give that then they have a good shot in the last two.
I think we will see them more focused this week. I'm sure at some level there was the thought that Georgia was going to over power them. That won't be the case these last two weeks.
As Prof mentioned, chasing Dobbs might be an issue with no rest, so the bye week before playing UL might be a blessing.
Posted on 11/9/14 at 9:00 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
There is something to be said for the sweet taste defeating UL in Louisville and it making UK bowl eligible.
This
It would be nice to win in Knoxville but now they put the Line Beards at the end, would be the better win from the overall status. With the Cards in the ACC it is a full 4 teams end of the season ACC vs SEC matchup.
Posted on 11/11/14 at 11:51 am to Cheese Grits
quote:
This
It would be nice to win in Knoxville but now they put the Line Beards at the end, would be the better win from the overall status. With the Cards in the ACC it is a full 4 teams end of the season ACC vs SEC matchup.
Yep. From a status pov Louisville is a ranked team and we're not. And ironically Tennessee is likely a stronger team given we're ranked several spots above Louisville by Sagarin which actually basis their rankings on several algorithms that account for how you win, how you lose, and your strength of schedule etc.
Since UK, much like us, is swinging above its weight class and has threatened several teams far better than Louisville, I think the bye week (which has to be much needed right now - it was for us) gives the Cats a great opportunity to knock off the Ville.
I don't know if it means anything but FWIW, I predicted you'd beat Vandy at the end of last year (before we realized how bad they sucked) and had a feeling you might knock off USC although I kept that one to myself for fear I'd be laughed at. The UT-UK is going to be a good one but I've got the Louisville game as a possible upset.
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