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UK is 6-2 and have been Bowl eligible since week 6 when they were 6-0. The Cats are 5-0 at home but 1-2 on the road including back to back loses to #1 Georgia and Mississippi State, both beat downs. So is Kentucky really as good as their record? In their opening game against UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE, UK would win handily 45-10 giving Cat fans hope of a great season.
In game 2, UK played UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI and narrowly won a shootout 35-28. Kentucky could have easily lost this game had it not been for Rodriguez recovering his own fumble in the 4th quarter. The Cats would score the go ahead touchdown immediately after the fumble. Kentucky’s defense would hold Missouri on 2 consecutive drives to secure the win.
In Game 3, the Cats faced off against UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT CHATTANOOGA. In a game which UK was highly favored, they would have to hang on again for a 28-23 win. Chattanooga led 16-14 early in the 4th quarter and Cat fans every where where sweating this game out. Kentucky scored 2 quick touchdowns to take the lead at 28-16 before Chattanooga would score again to make it 28-23. UK would hang on for the win, but easily could have lost this one.
Game 4 was a road contest at UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA and the Cats were truly thankful for their defense as they won a nail biter 16-10. UK would go in to the half leading 10-0. UK would head in to the 4th quarter clinging to a 13-7 lead. As the Cats did with Chattanooga, they would hold the ball until the clock ran out for the win. For the 3rd game in a row, UK survived to win a game decided by 7 points or less.
Game 5 for was the much anticipated matchup with UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, Kentucky would hold on for the 20-13 win after their defense kept Florida from tying the game when they had made it down to the Cats 8 yard line. Florida led Kentucky 10-7 at the half. This was the 4th consecutive game winning when decided by 7 points or less.
Kentucky would go on to dismantle an LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY team having a down year. LSU currently sits at 4-4 and has a 1-3 records against ranked teams. A far cry from normal LSU squads.
That brings us to #1 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA whom beat the Cats 30-13 in a game that was never in question. Georgia shut down all facets of UK’s game.
Kentucky would travel to MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY in a game fans hoped would be a rebound game and get the Cats back on track. It was not. Mississippi state lowered the boom on the Cats 31-17. This came after a bye week. You would hope UK would be ready for this game with 2 weeks preparation but the Cats came out flat and simply were not ready to play the Bulldogs on the road.
Kentucky will now take on UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE in a home contest in hopes of keeping their New Years Day Bowl game hopes alive. Tennessee, is 4-4 with 3 of their 4 losses coming to ranked teams. Tennessee is an all or nothing team as all 4 of their wins have been blowouts of 20 points or more. The Vols have not beaten a ranked team this year and if it matters, Kentucky comes in ranked #18.
What does this amount to? Is Kentucky really as good as their 6-2 record? A few plays here or there and they could possibly be 2-6, and probably should be 4-4. This is a win or lose sport and no matter how you get the win, it is a win. Kentucky fans should have an idea of whether the Cats are fo real after the next couple games, as they play Tennessee, then at Vandy, home against New Mexico before traveling to Louisville before bowl season begins. Ideally, Kentucky “SHOULD” finish 10-2 or 9-3 if they tank another game like the did at Mississippi State. Only time will tell.
