Make or Break

In less than two weeks the Cats will open up their football season in Cincinnati against the Miami of Ohio Szczerbiak's (RedHawks). This is sure to be an interesting season that in my opinion will have four really important games and probably not all the four games you're thinking. Being realistic, this team has a few questions, so it's hard to tell just what team will show up. Will it be stifling defense? Will the passing game make it's grand entrance from a year of absence? Will the backfield be able to get out of the backfield? Who knows at this point? One thing is for certain, the Cat fans will be ready.

Back to the four games I think will be the deciding factor in the Cats going Bowling once again. Sure being a Cat optimist I would love to believe that we could knock off an Alabama, or Georgia, or Tennessee which truthfully in a year of change and question for those teams, it could possibly happen. Being a realist I want to focus on games I truly believe UK could have the upper hand in but are toss ups.

#4 Auburn

Questions, questions, questions, are flying in Auburn, AL about this coming season. The hiring of former Iowa St. head coach Gene Chizik was scrutinized by fans, media, and even former Tiger's basketball star Charles Barkley. Chizik was just 5-19 in two seasons as the Cyclones head coach. Then there is the return of Kodi Burns at the QB. It is no secret that this job is not solidified. I'm sure going into the new season the Tigers will try different scenarios but Burns with his experience will head into season as the starter. He was not very successful passing last year but was very convincing with his legs. Bouncing him around though could cause some confidence issues. There are also a few questions with the depth of the D-line as well, which could bold well for the Cats. If Hartline has time for multiple options I think the passing game will unfold. This is not a game the experts will probably have UK favored in but I will not be surprised if we walked away with a sloppy one on the road. Keep an eye on this one as it's a middle of the season game and we could be running on all cylinders.

#3 Mississippi St.

Truthfully this game should not be major test for UK but when these two teams get together it's usually just ugly, state fair tank top funnel cake ugly! Having witnessed this disaster of a game last year first hand in Starkville, I can honestly say I really though both teams were trying to lose. With the departure of the much criticized Crooms I can say I think State made an excellent hire in first year head coach Dan Mullen. Former Florida assistant under Urban Meyer brings in a new system for the Dogs. The Spread Offense. No he won't have the same personnel and talent he was working with at Florida but I think eventually he will turn what was the bottom of the barrel in the SEC last year into a contending program once again. Sadly senior RB Anthony Dixon was arrested in July for DUI and had a court date last week. I'm not sure the punishment or if it has been passed down but this could slow he and the new system down for a bit. What does all this mean for the Cats? Well with all the new positive changes, Kentucky needs to get the Bulldog's while they can. I believe they will work their way up the SEC ladder in the next few years. Again it's a new coach, new system, questions will personnel that could all benefit UK. Should we win? Simply yes. I just hope when the Dog's come to town our offense is clicking and we can make this a prettier win than last years 14-13 win in Starkville that essentially came down to a blocked extra point.

#2 Vanderbilt

53 years. Yes that was how long the Commodores had suffered since their last Bowl win. Like UK, Vandy has started to gain a little respect in the college football realm. Do they scare people? Ehh not really, but people know who they are now. Once fellow cellar dwellers with UK, the Commodores and coach Bobby Johnson are making some noise, especially after ending their 26 year drought of not even making a Bowl appearance to actually beating Boston College in the Music City Bowl. UK and Vandy have become quite the rival on the football field more or less because it's a game both teams have circled in previous years as a probable win. Again like the previous mentioned teams there are some personnel questions with the Dores especially at QB and in the secondary. The rest of the defense barring injury should be back from last year. The O-line looks to have all it's starters back this year as well. This will be no game to circle as a for sure win especially as the Cats must travel to Nashville this year.

#1 Louisville

I'm sure you are shocked. Yes I picked the disappointing Kragthorpe and the Filthy Birds as the game I think could really make a difference. No motivation is needed when these two teams meet but the Cats sure could use a jump start to their season before going down the Murder's Row of their schedule when they meet Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina in consecutive weeks. This is one of those make it or break it games for Wildcats who should have the upper hand going into this once having more experience in most of the positions. Louisville's defense was border line just terrible last year and unless some underclassmen step it up this year it could be going down the same road again. The QB spot is again up for grabs but truthfully it won't take much to surpass the disaster that was last year. UK being in the cellar of the SEC is one thing but being in the bottom of the Big Least is shameful. I don't see the stars aligning for the Filthy Cards this year and they could be looking for another overhaul in the off season. I hope we are just one more nail in the coffin for the Card's season.

These are my four games that I believe will make or break the Cats chances of making it to another Bowl this year. Barring any major upsets I, like most people realistically have UK at the 6-6 mark making yet another appearance in a Bowl game. I will say though with all the questions and getting most of the tough teams at home this year the Cats could pull off an upset of what has been the circus of off season football Tennessee Vols, or Auburn, or South Carolina and end up 7-6. I would love for a major upset of the Gators or the Tide but I'll settle for progress and another Bowl game.

OOOOOOOHHHHHHHH C-A-T-S! CATS! CATS! CATS!