Pre-game odds and ends
By Will
Defensive improvement?
Since we’ve got a fourth of the season in the books, seems like a good time to compare Kentucky’s 2007 defensive numbers to the 2006 numbers.
Through three games, Kentucky is 70th in total defense (374 yards per game), 87th in rushing defense (185 yards per game), 39th in pass defense (189 yards per game), and 48th in scoring defense (21.3 points per game.
Last season, Kentucky finished 118th in total defense (453.38 yards per game), 108th in rushing defense (184.5 yards per game),118th in pass defense (268.92 yards per game), and 99th in scoring defense (28.4 points per game).
Make of that what you will.
Kentucky’s triplets and all-time records:
Rafael Little, Keenan Burton, and Andre’ Woodson are all moving up the charts in some significant Kentucky all-time records. We wanted to see where they stand through three games:
Little came into the season with 1,983 rushing yards. He’s gained 388 yards in three games, which gives him 2,371 for his career. He’s 277 yards behind George Adams, whose 2,648 yard place him fourth on Kentucky’s all-time charts. If Little stays healthy and productive, he could catch Mark Higgs, at 2,892 yards, and Moe Williams, at 3,333 yards, but Kentucky’s all-time leader, Sonny Collins with 3,835, is surely out of reach.
Burton came into the season at fifth in receptions (123), fourth in yards (1,635), and fourth in touchdown receptions (16). His 21 receptions give him 144 for his career, which passes Derek Homer (129) and places Burton fourth behind Anthony White (194), Derek Abney (197) and Craig Yeast (208).
With 257 yards through three games, Burton passed Quentin McCord (1,743) to move into third in all-time receiving yardage with 1,892 yards. He trails Abney (2,339) and Yeast (2,899).
Burton has two touchdown receptions on the season, giving him 18 for his career. He passed Steve Mellinger (17) and is tied with Abney (18) for second in Kentucky history. Yeast leads with 28.
Andre’ Woodson has passed for 743 yards and 9 touchdowns through three games. He entered the season at third all-time in passing yards. He now has 6,394 yards and still trails Tim Couch (8,394) and Jared Lorenzen (10,354).
He entered the season at third in all-time touchdown passes (39) and now has 48 for his career. He trails Babe Pirilli (50), Tim Couch (74), and Jared Lorenzen (78).
Assorted punditry re Arkansas vs. Kentucky:
–ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd has Arkansas as his lock of the week.
–Phil Steele’s numbers like Arkansas (and he predicts the Cats to go 3-5 in conference — wins over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee). [Link]
–During ESPN’s coverage of Tulsa vs. Oklahoma last night, Lou Holtz picked Arkansas and Mark May picked Kentucky. (Perhaps a good omen? Holtz picked Louisville and May Kentucky last week).
–On ESPN’s College Gameday this morning, Kirk Herbstreit picked Arkansas in a close game and Lee Corso picked Arkansas by at least two touchdowns. (Perhaps another good omen? Corso picked Louisville by at least two touchdowns at Louisville’s preseason luncheon.)
–John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader likes the Cats:
Kentucky at Arkansas: Before the season, I picked Kentucky to triumph in Fayetteville. The Cats have played well at Arkansas before. Big first road test. Razorback secondary had trouble with Alabama. And Tide doesn’t possess UK’s array of weapons. Still, Kentucky must avoid letdown after big Louisville win. Plus find a way to contain McFadden. Kentucky 30, Arkansas 20.
[Link]
–Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that he’s got a feeling about Kentucky:
Kentucky at Arkansas: Kentucky just posted one of the biggest wins in school history by beating No. 9 Louisville. Arkansas got beat at the buzzer at Alabama in a game that had fans second guessing coaches and officials. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks is making his first ever trip to Fayetteville, Ark. All the signs point to the Hogs but I’ve got a feeling about this Kentucky team. Kentucky 34, Arkansas 30.
(Perhaps a third good omen? Barnhart also picked us against Louisville.)[Link]
Bizarre day in college football
–Sure, as was demonstrated by Middle Tennessee State and our beloved Kentucky, Louisville probably had no business being ranked No. 9. But not in our wildest dreams (and certainly not in this guy’s — still got that ‘Unbridled Enthusiam’ buddy?) did we think the Cards would lose to Syracuse in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium (or anywhere else, for that matter). One of the things that puzzles us about Louisville fans’ reactions to the Cards’ meltdown is that they all law the blame at the feet of the new coach, Steve Kragthorpe, but we don’t see anybody criticizing Athletic Director Tom Jurich for hiring him in the first place (especially since the ’search’ for Bobby Petrino’s successor that took all of 48 hours).
–Yea, they won, 41-40, but is there a team in college football more perpetually overrated than Nebraska? (And yes, we understand that people probably say the same thing about Kentucky Basketball as we’ve been a bit average the last two years yet always start the season in the top-25. But this has been going on with Nebraska since Frank Solich was there.)
What to make of Florida’s struggles with Ole Miss? We figure Coach Orgeron wanted revenge for Florida fan Orson Swindle hacking into Coach O’s Outlook page.
Onward and upward!