For the past two years, the Wildcats have suffered a straight collapse in the second half of the season, following a strong start. The pressure is on Mark Stoops to get Kentucky to six wins and its first bowl game since 2010. Based on win-loss records from 2015, the Wildcats opponents were 84-70 in 2015, which ranks 11th in the SEC and 51st overall in college football.
Over the first half of the last two seasons, the Cats have gone 9-3, and on paper another strong start looks to be in order for the beginning of 2016. There are several winnable games on the first half of the schedule, and the Wildcats should catch a break in hosting an SEC team that looks to be down in 2016. However, one of the biggest games on the docket is the first one of the season.
Predicting The 2016 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule Part I
Southern Mississippi (September 3- ESPNU- 7:30)
The Wildcats are certainly not playing a cupcake to begin the 2016 season. The Golden Eagles were one of the surprises of college football a year ago, going 9-5 and losing 44-31 in the Heart of Texas Bowl to Washington. This, after going 4-32 over the previous three seasons. New head coach Jay Hopson went 32-17 in his time at Alcorn State. He replaces Tom Monken, who left to become offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Golden Eagles also have a new offensive coordinator who is very familiar to Wildcat fans. Shannon Dawson, who was let go after one season, is now calling the plays in Hattiesburg. This makes this game even more interesting.
Southern Miss is led by Conference USA Pre-season Player of the Year, quarterback Nick Mullens. Under former coordinator Chip Lindsey, Mullens threw for 4,500 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2015. This will be a big early test for defensive coordinator DJ Eliot, who has to replace several starters from last season. If Dawson’s offense comes into Lexington and runs up 40 points, upsetting the Cats, this would make Stoops seat even hotter. This should be a high-scoring game with the Cats winning in the fourth quarter.
Kentucky 41-27 Kentucky 1-0 0-0 SEC
At Florida (September 10- CBS- 3:30)
Kentucky fans know all too well about “The Streak” which now stands at 29-straight defeats at the hands of Florida. The Cats have come close several times but have not beat the Gators since 1986. The last two season Kentucky has had their chances to win but ultimately fell short. Jim McElwain’s club has a yet to name a starting quarterback and must replace several key players on defense, so catching them this early in the season could be a big plus for the Cats. Kentucky has a real chance to pull the upset in front of a national television audience. But what always seems to be the case, the Gators will find a way to push the streak to 30.
Florida 24-17 Kentucky 1-1 0-1 SEC
New Mexico State (September 17- SEC Alternate Channel 4:00)
The Aggies went 3-9 last season and have not won more than four games in a season since 2004. They are being booted from the Sun Belt conference after next season and are auditioning for a new league.
If Doug Martin’s team has a strong suit, it would be the offense which averaged 29 points a game. Running back Larry Rose III returns after a sophomore year, in which he ran for 1,651 yards and 14 touchdowns. Stopping him is going to be the key for a Wildcats win.
On the other side of the ball, the Aggies had trouble stopping anyone. The defense gave up 522 yards per game and 46 points. If there is a game in which quarterback Drew Barker and the Kentucky offense should shine, it is this one.
Kentucky 52- 20 Kentucky 2-1 0-1 SEC
South Carolina – (September 24)
The Wildcats went into Columbia last year and ended a 22-game road losing streak in the SEC. Two weeks later Steve Spurrier resigned as the Gamecocks head coach. Coincidence?? Maybe or maybe not.
Kentucky will try to win three in a row against an SEC opponent for the first time since beating Tennessee three straight from 1957-1959.
Carolina finished 3-9 in 2015 and has a new coach in Will Muschamp. He faces a pretty big rebuilding effort, as the Gamecocks were picked to finish last in the SEC East. Kentucky should be able to take care of business in this one and make it three straight.
Kentucky 28-14 Kentucky 3-1 1-1 SEC
At Alabama (October 1)
The last time Kentucky played in Tuscaloosa, they only lost 17-14 in 2008. Nick Saban was in his second season and was just getting the program going again. Eight years and four national championships later, the Tide are once again the favorites to win the SEC in 2016. One thing to watch will be to see how Damien Harris does against Kentucky. The Madison Southern product and former Mr. Kentucky Football spurned the Cats to sign with the Crimson Tide. After this game, the Tide will go to Arkansas and Tennessee, so Kentucky may catch them looking ahead. This one should be close for a while, but eventually the Crimson Tide’s talent will be too much.
Alabama 38-17 Kentucky 3-2 1-2 SEC
Vanderbilt (October 8)
The Cats let their chances for a trip to a bowl game slip away down in Nashville last year, losing 21-17 as the Commodores stopped Kentucky twice at the goal line. UK has lost four of the last five against Vandy, and both teams look at this game as a stepping stone to get to six wins and a bowl game.
Derek Mason’s club returns one of the league’s best defenses, but it has its struggles on the offense. This game may come down to who can execute big plays. Playing at home, Kentucky should pull this one out late in the game.
Kentucky 24-14 Kentucky 4-2 2-2 SEC
Will Kentucky Be Successful?
At the half way point in the season, the Wildcats should look in pretty good shape to get their first bowl bid since 2010. However, as any long-suffering UK fan can tell you, after two straight second-half collapses, nothing is for sure. The second half of the season features trips to Tennessee, Missouri and Louisville, along with Georgia at home. How will those games play out? That question will be answered next time.
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