![\"Kentucky's](\"https:\/\/lwosoncfb.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/05\/bracket-e1559760603304.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Jerry Claiborne Bracket<\/h4>\n
(1)- UK versus Alabama 1997 against (4)- UK versus East Carolina 2009<\/p>\n
How they got here: Alabama defeated Auburn 2009 while East Carolina defeated the 1964 Ole Miss victory.<\/p>\n
Kentucky 40- Alabama 34 (Overtime)<\/h4>\n
About the game-\u00a0<\/strong>The Crimson Tide squad of 1997 in no way resembled what\u00a0Nick Saban<\/a> has built now. However, they came into this contest at Commonwealth Stadium ranked 20th. A back and forth contest saw the Cats go up 34-31 late when Anwar Stewart<\/strong> returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a score.<\/p>\n A late field goal sending the game into overtime set the stage for a fantastic finish. After holding Alabama scoreless\u00a0Tim Couch<\/a> hit\u00a0Craig Yeast<\/a> with a 26 yard touchdown for the win.<\/p>\n Why this game is important-\u00a0<\/strong>It marked the first time in 75 years the Wildcats beat the Crimson Tide on the gridiron. In addition, many say it is the best game ever in Lexington.<\/p>\n Rich Brooks’<\/a>\u00a0club trailed 16-3 at the half of the 2009 Liberty Bowl.<\/strong> However, as they did many times under Brooks the Cats rallied for a victory.\u00a0David Jones<\/a> took the second half kick off 99 for a score cutting the lead to seven. A pass from\u00a0Mike Hartline<\/a> to\u00a0Kyrus Langster<\/a> tied it at 16.<\/p>\n After an exchange of field goals tied the game at 19, the Kentucky defense took over. With three minutes remaining\u00a0Myron<\/a> Pryo<\/a>r<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0forced a fumble,\u00a0Ventr<\/a>ell<\/a> Jenkins<\/a>\u00a0scooped it up and ran 66 yards for the score and win.<\/p>\n Why this game in important-<\/strong>\u00a0The win gave the Wildcats a third straight bowl win for the only time in school history.<\/p>\n Our next match up is a battle of great Kentucky victories in the “Battle for the Governor’s Cup.”<\/p>\n (2)- Kentucky versus Louisville 2016 against (3)- Kentucky versus Louisville 1998<\/p>\n How they got here: the 2016 Louisville game defeated the 1995 South Carolina win while the 1998 victory beat the 2010 South Carolina game.<\/p>\n About the game-\u00a0<\/strong>Mark Stoops’<\/a>\u00a0Wildcats went into the final game of the 2016 season as a four touchdown underdog to the Cardinals. However the Kentucky defense forced eventual Heisman Trophy winner\u00a0Lamar Jackson<\/a> into four turnovers.<\/p>\n Quarterback\u00a0Stephen Johnson<\/a> had the best game of his Wildcat career throwing for 351 yards and three touchdowns. When\u00a0Austin MacGinnis<\/a> hit a 48 yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining it gave the Cats the win in a huge upset.<\/p>\n Why this game is important<\/strong>– Kentucky broke a five game losing streak to the Cardinals in what is the second best game\u00a0in series history.<\/a><\/p>\n About the game<\/strong>– Under a blazing near 100 degree temperature the Kentucky offense was nearly as hot. In the first game in Papa John’s Stadium\u00a0Tim Couch<\/a> and the Air Raid attack lit up Louisville for a school record 801 yards. Couch finished with 478 yards through the air and seven touchdowns.<\/p>\n Why this game is important-\u00a0<\/strong>In addition to jump starting Couch’s Heisman campaign where he finished fourth he compiled a near perfect 240 quarterback rating.<\/p>\n We are now halfway through Kentucky’s Greatest Football Win Sweet 16. The final two games feature the overall number one seed as part of the Mark Stoops Bracket.<\/p>\n (1) Kentucky versus LSU 2007 versus (4)- Kentucky versus Florida State 2007.<\/p>\n How they got here: LSU defeated the 1984 Tennessee game while Florida State beat the 1984 Wisconsin contest.<\/p>\n About the game-\u00a0<\/strong>Trailing 27-14 late in the third quarter to the number one Tigers\u00a0Andre Woodson<\/a> rallied the Cats to send the game into overtime tied at 27.<\/p>\n Both squads scored touchdowns in the first overtime and field goals in the second. In the third overtime Woodson found\u00a0Stevie Johnson<\/a>\u00a0for a touchdown putting the Cats up 43-37. They missed the try for two however it wouldn\u2019t matter. On a fourth and two linebacker\u00a0Braxton Kelley<\/a>\u00a0stopped\u00a0Charles Scott<\/a>\u00a0short and the celebration was on.<\/p>\n Why this game is important-\u00a0<\/strong>The victory marked the first win by Kentucky over a number one ranked team since 1964. As a result many consider it the best win in Wildcat history. Furthermore it comes into this tournament as the overall number one seed.<\/p>\n About the game-\u00a0<\/strong>The Cats finished a second straight season with a bid in the Music City Bowl. For a second straight year they faced an ACC squad. However\u00a0Bobby Bowden’s<\/a> Seminoles were without 34 players due to injury or suspension.<\/p>\n After Andre Woodson\u2019s<\/strong> fourth touchdown pass of the day made it 35-21, FSU cut it to seven on a pass from\u00a0Drew Weatherford<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Greg Carr<\/a>. Kentucky appeared to have the game won when\u00a0Micah Johnson<\/a>\u00a0intercepted a pass. However he fumbled on the return giving the ball right back. Luckily for Cat fans a last second pass fell incomplete.<\/p>\n Woodson finished with 358 yards and four touchdowns on the way to being named the game’s MVP. In addition his 40 touchdowns broke Tim Couch’s single season record of 37.<\/p>\n Why this game is important<\/strong>– It marked the first consecutive bowl wins for the Cats since the 1950’s.<\/p>\n Our final match up of Kentucky’s greatest win sweet 16 features two games from the Cats’ best season in 41 years.<\/p>\n (6)- Kentucky versus Mississippi State 2018 versus (2)- Kentucky versus Penn State 2019<\/p>\n How they got here: the Mississippi State win narrowly edged the 2017 Tennessee victory. The Penn State win beat out the 2006 triumph over Georgia.<\/p>\n About the game<\/strong>\u2013 Of all the things\u00a0Benny Snell<\/a> accomplished at Kentucky this game ranks near the top. Against a defense line which had three players taken in the NFL Draft Snell lit them up for 165 yards and four touchdowns. In process he broke\u00a0Randall Cobb<\/a>\u2018s school touchdown record of 37.<\/p>\n However as impressive as Snell was the Kentucky defense was up to the task. Behind first round pick\u00a0Josh Allen<\/a>\u00a0the Wildcats held the Bulldogs to\u00a0only 51 yards rushing<\/a>\u00a0or 251 below their season average.<\/b><\/p>\n Why this game is important-<\/strong>\u00a0The victory marked the first time since 1977 Kentucky won consecutive game against ranked opponents.<\/p>\n About the game- Playing in their first New Year’s Bowl in 20 years and behind huge games from\u00a0Benny Snell<\/a> and\u00a0Lynn Bowden<\/a> the Cats jumped out to a 27-7 lead. However they had to fight out a huge Nittany Lion comeback\u00a0to preserve the win.<\/a><\/p>\n In setting the all-time record for yards with 3,873 Snell ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to returning a punt for a touchdown Bowden had five catches for 84 yards. Josh Allen<\/a>, playing his last game for Kentucky had three sacks and blocked a field goal.<\/p>\n Why this game is important-\u00a0<\/strong>Not only was it the first New Year’s Bowl win since 1952 it marked only the third time in school history the Cats won 10 games in a season. The other two being 1950 and 1977.<\/p>\n Now that we’ve gone through all the game it is time to decide who wins. Once again we are going with all the top seeds to make it to the Elite Eight.<\/p>\n 1997 Alabama over 2009 East Carolina<\/p>\n 2016 Louisville over 1998 Louisville<\/p>\n 2007 LSU over 2007 Florida State<\/p>\n 2019 Penn State over 2018 Mississippi State<\/p>\nKentucky 25- East Carolina 19<\/h4>\n
Kentucky 41- Louisville 38<\/h4>\n
Kentucky 56- Louisville 28<\/h4>\n
Mark Stoops Bracket<\/h4>\n
Kentucky 43- LSU 37 (Three overtimes)<\/h4>\n
Kentucky 35- Florida State 28- 2007 Music City Bowl<\/h4>\n
Kentucky 28- Mississippi State 7<\/h4>\n
Kentucky 27- Penn State 24- 2019 Citrus Bowl<\/h4>\n
Prediction Time<\/h4>\n