August 31, 201610 yr College football season has arrived. I have been a lifetime Kentucky football fan. I can remember watching games on tape delay on good ole WSAZ or WKYT. I watched many games from the end zone bleachers at Commonwealth Stadium. From the euphoria of witnessing the upset win over Alabama to the utter disbelief of the LSU Hail Mary loss, being a UK football fan is definitely a tough life. Yet the start of a new season brings optimism for the Big Blue Nation. Is this the year Mark Stoops can lead the Cats back to a bowl game? The Wildcats rolled to a 4-1 record last year but could not get that elusive 6th win and finished 5-7. Gone are quarterback Patrick Towles and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and in are QB Drew Barker and new OC Eddie Gran. The running game should be a strength with Boom Williams and Jojo Kemp back after successful seasons in 2015. Dorian Baker and Garrett Johnson highlight a talented group of receivers. I think the key to the offense could be tight end C.J. Conrad. He showed flashes year ago and could have a breakout season for the Cats.The offensive line will anchored by center Jon Toth. I really think Gran will give the offense a much needed boost with his play-calling. The strength of the defense should be the defensive backfield led by sophomore Chris Westry. As most fans know, strong defensive lines in the SEC equal wins in the rugged league. An improved Matt Elam would definitely help the Cats in that area. The loss of Regie Meant, due to personal reasons, will hurt but the emergence of Courtney Miggins and Denzil Ware could soften the blow. Josh Allen will lead an inexperienced group of linebackers that have to get better as the season progresses. Hopefully the ball-hawking secondary can cause a lot of turnovers this season. I think the home opener versus an explosive Southern Mississippi is a must win if the Cats want to reach a bowl game. An opening win will give the momentum for the rest of the season. The schedule is once again SEC tough plus the annual date with rival Louisville. Kicker Austin McGinnis could be the difference maker in winning some tight game late. I think the Cats will be bowling this year as Stoops fends off the fans calling for his job. PV’s Prediction: 6-6 My mother and her family are from Ohio. I was an Ohio State football fan from an early age. My first memories are of quarterback Cornelius Greene running the option and Woody Hayes roaming the sidelines. Art Schlichter was my next Buckeye favorite. I even had his book “Straight Arrow” which seems ironic now. It is definitely big-time football when you attend a game at The Shoe. It is quite the experience. Urban Meyer has taken the program to new heights since he took over after the scandal under Jim Tressel. Now it is time to reload. Can the Scarlet and Gray replace 14 players who left for the NFL? The offense will be led by quarterback J.T. Barrett. The key is keeping him healthy for a whole season. He is the prototypical QB for Meyer’s offense. Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel have the task of replacing Ezekiel Elliott. Corey Smith is the only experienced receiver on the squad but there is talent galore at the position. The offensive line has to replace both tackles but junior Jamarco Jones has been impressive in the preseason. Though questions abound, the talent is there on this side of the ball. Returning players Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard will lead a defense that has to replace players like Joey Bosa. A pair of fourth year juniors in Tracy Sprinkle and Michael Hill will anchor the defensive line. The Buckeyes’ secondary will be the under gun right from the start as they face five up-tempo offenses to start the season. The defense may need time to mature, but I feel they will step up to the challenge well. An early season road game at Oklahoma will be a great barometer for the Buckeyes. A loss will not kill the Buckeyes playoff chances. A win would get the squad rolling. The Bucks must go through the two schools up North to win the Big Ten and I think they will do that. The Ohio State University will prove once again TRADITION DOESN”T GRADUATE. I plan on watching Coach Meyer on the sidelines in the college football playoffs on New Year’s Eve. PV’s Prediction: 10-2 #PearlVision Check out my blog at Site Title
August 31, 201610 yr An improved Matt Elam would definitely help the Cats in that area. What does "An improved Matt Elam" look like? Fairly low bar, isn't it?
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