Fiddlin' five and 1

[RV]

This team is much like the previous hardcourt version as they are always “fiddlin’ around and fiddlin’ around then finally pulling it out at the end,” as Coach Rupp would say.

Stephen Johnson is a winner and there are several warriors on this team. They just don't quit. Amazingly in the 360 minutes they've played, they've only been behind 39 of those minutes - just a bit over 10% but the score throughout each game has remained close. This is not a team for the faint of heart.

Many UK fans won't give this team credit but we're witnessing this program learning how to win. It ain't always pretty but I'll take this over the alternative.

Now if they could only repeat the five and one in the second half ...

[KYCATS01]

Listening to SEC Network after game last night, heard UK can realistically beat Miss St, UT , Ole Miss and Vandy heading into Georgia game however they do not think UK will pull out win against UGA. I think beating Miss St. will be tough so 9-3 or 8-4 is reasonable final record which would show program is strongly heading in right direction and solidify next recruiting class.

[Blue Heaven]

Georgia is very impressive. They have a fantastic defense. Kirby Smart is building Georgia like Alabama. Oh, Vandy, so you are good against the run? Watch this.

[Spiritof96]

This team is much like the previous hardcourt version as they are always “fiddlin’ around and fiddlin’ around then finally pulling it out at the end,” as Coach Rupp would say.

Stephen Johnson is a winner and there are several warriors on this team. They just don't quit. Amazingly in the 360 minutes they've played, they've only been behind 39 of those minutes - just a bit over 10% but the score throughout each game has remained close. This is not a team for the faint of heart.

Many UK fans won't give this team credit but we're witnessing this program learning how to win. It ain't always pretty but I'll take this over the alternative.

Now if they could only repeat the five and one in the second half ...

I don't understand any fan who isn't pleased as punch with this start. I mean, we're winning. Enjoy it!

[boomdaddy]

That game was a roller coaster ride. The interception right to the LB, thrown behind the receiver took the heart out of the crowd, and the fumble on the next play gave them all hope again. The big run by Snell for the TD, and then Mizzou answers back with a TD. The blocked FG was huge. Kash Daniel making the first down on the fake punt was pretty awesome. ( I was pissed that they were punting, because I didn't think they could stop them on D) and they pull off a great trick play. This game had more ups and downs and it was feeling of uncertainty that it could go either way.

Not sure what you are going to get on offense or defense, with this team. It was good to see them prevail. I am a huge fan of Stephen Johnson. He is very gutty player and tough competitor. I would like to see them roll him out of the pocket more. I think it would make him more effective.

My main pet peeve is that I would like to see Bowden at the Wildcat and let him run or pass. I think he would have gotten the ball to the TE, on that play that they used Snell. I love Snell too, but Bowden played QB in high school. That ball floated too long and allowed the defender to make a play.

[Old School]

Listening to SEC Network after game last night, heard UK can realistically beat Miss St, UT , Ole Miss and Vandy heading into Georgia game however they do not think UK will pull out win against UGA. I think beating Miss St. will be tough so 9-3 or 8-4 is reasonable final record which would show program is strongly heading in right direction and solidify next recruiting class.

Those guys talked about there being a pretty good chance that Kentucky goes into the Georgia game at 9-1.

There is actually a pretty decent chance that Kentucky will be favored in three of those four games. They can win any of the three. Two wins should be expected, though no one should think that any of these teams aren't capable of beating the Wildcats, especially if Kentucky doesn't bring its A game, avoid turnovers, and play consistently.

Mississippi State would probably be about a 10 or 11 point favorite against Kentucky right now, and their upcoming game against Brigham Young should do little to affect that unless 20+ point underdog BYU wins or hangs tough or the Bulldogs suffer a key injury or two, reducing the line significantly. In any event, this is a tough road trip for Kentucky, though visitors have an unusual amount of success in this series over the years.

There would probably be an even line on the Tennessee game right now. Tennessee hosts South Carolina next weekend and then plays Alabama the next weekend and likely comes out of it 4-3, 1-3 or 3-4, 0-4. If they lose to South Carolina and are beaten as badly as other Alabama opponents this year, Kentucky will be favored - unless Mississippi State drubs them. If Tennessee beats South Carolina but is drubbed by Alabama, the line will be really close or even. If they beat Carolina and improve on other teams' results against Bama, Tennessee will be favored. Regardless, this is a winnable game for Kentucky.

Kentucky would probably be favored by anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 points against Ole Miss right now. Ole Miss has three home games before traveling to Lexington: Vanderbilt, LSU and Arkansas. They could win all three, and are a 3 point favorite against Vanderbilt right now. I think they'd have to win 2, or see Kentucky lose 2, to be favored against UK. Still, they are a dangerous team with some difficult weapons, and though Kentucky is capable of beating this team, it will not be an easy game.

Vanderbilt would probably be a point favorite or an even line with Kentucky right now. The game is in Nashville. This is a capable but inconsistent team. They travel to Ole Miss and South Carolina and then host WKU before playing Kentucky. The SEC games in there could do a lot to illustrate what this team is, but right now, they look like a pretty even matchup for Kentucky.

It's been a long time since Kentucky had a mid-season four game stretch that was so there for the taking.

[teamchemistry15]

I think we lose to Miss St, go 2-1 against UT, Ole Miss, and Vandy, get a good ole fashioned beat down at Jawja, then beat Louisville to go 8-4. That is a VERY good season if it ends like that. I wouldn't be surprised to see nine wins and I wouldn't be surprised to see seven. We could easily lose to Miss St, UT, and Louisville. But, like someone said above,this team is learning how to win those ugly games. Two years ago we lost them, last year you could see the signs of the toughness and winning mentality being forged, and this year it's paying off. Outside of two complete breakdowns, which won't happen again this year, we are having a terrific season. The only way we have lost this year is two of the dumbest mistakes you can make. I don't see us having too many of those.

[UKFBFAN]

That game was a roller coaster ride. The interception right to the LB, thrown behind the receiver took the heart out of the crowd, and the fumble on the next play gave them all hope again. The big run by Snell for the TD, and then Mizzou answers back with a TD. The blocked FG was huge. Kash Daniel making the first down on the fake punt was pretty awesome. ( I was pissed that they were punting, because I didn't think they could stop them on D) and they pull off a great trick play. This game had more ups and downs and it was feeling of uncertainty that it could go either way.

Not sure what you are going to get on offense or defense, with this team. It was good to see them prevail. I am a huge fan of Stephen Johnson. He is very gutty player and tough competitor. I would like to see them roll him out of the pocket more. I think it would make him more effective.

My main pet peeve is that I would like to see Bowden at the Wildcat and let him run or pass. I think he would have gotten the ball to the TE, on that play that they used Snell. I love Snell too, but Bowden played QB in high school. That ball floated too long and allowed the defender to make a play.

I know you have special players and plays you would like to see, but I am willing to take what the coaches call. Lots of it seems too redundant for me but with our team, injuries and talents, I figure they have reasons for what they call.

[Dwight Schrute]

I saw someone, maybe Mark Story in the Herald-Leader, refer to this team as Tubby ball on a football field. That seems to be an apropos comparison.

Not sure what happened to the defense Saturday night, but we're 5-1 and I think we can compete with everyone on the schedule not named Georgia, who I think is the toughest team we'll face and is the best team not named Alabama in the SEC.