Kentucky Wildcats 2018 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – Kentucky Wildcats 2018 NCAA Football Preview

2017 Recap

Record – 7-6

ATS – 4-9

The Cats had a fine season winning seven games whilst losing a pair of one-point heart-breakers to Florida (31 consecutive losses to the Gators…chomp chomp) and Northwestern (missed 2-pt conversion to win). They were blown to bits in the final two regular season games against Georgia and Louisville.

HC Mark Stoops has quietly got this program on the right track. Their win totals have steadily increased over his tenure (2-5-5-7-7) but making the next jump may be difficult in the rugged SEC.

2018 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

East Division – #5

SEC – Tied #11

Kentucky Wildcats 2018 Outlook

OFFENSE

This should be interesting. The Wildcats are coming off a rough season MATRICULATING in the passing game (#96 FBS) throwing only 10 TD passes all season. It’s anyone’s guess who starts at QB, but it will almost certainly come down to JC transfer Terry Wilson and sophomore Gunnar Hoak. Amaze your MASSEUSE with this gem. Kentucky does not have a QB on the roster that has attempted an FBS pass. Nobody with more than 400 yards receiving returns from last year’s squad, but they do have an excellent TE in CJ Conrad (17.9 yards per reception LY).

When in doubt, hand the ball to one of the most underrated backs in college football. Benny Snell rushed for over 1,300 yards in 2017 and took it to the house 19 (!) times on the ground. That makes back-to-back 1,000 yard campaigns for the junior and the Wildcats fortunes are tied enormously to his productivity and health. The OL returns 4/5 starters and we foresee the ground game working well provided that they can do something throwing the football. <grabs popcorn>

DEFENSE

Kentucky’s bowl bid hopes will depend largely on the play of the defense. They were decent last season (28.2 points per game) and got some PENETRATION (30 sacks), but the run defense was weak when facing the better SEC teams (4.9 YPC allowed on the season) and pass defense suspect (64% completions). They bring back eight starters to the mix and should have their best performance since 2011 (24.7 PPG allowed). They have a couple of future NFL players in DE Josh Allen (7 sacks LY) and last year’s leading tackler and 1st Team SEC FS Mike Edwards.

SPECIAL TEAMS

This is an area of concern. The Cats move on from their ace PK Austin MacGinnis and must also work in a new P. Oh, and a new PR.

Schedule Analysis

Overall – Not too bad. They avoid the SEC West heavyweights and have a manageable non-conference slate (Chips, Murray St, MTSU, Louisville). Murray St is probably the only true layup so they will have to scrap to get to six wins and beyond.

Potential ATS Trouble Spot – MTSU (November 17). This is a sandwich deal between a road game at Tennessee and a revenge date with the Cards.

Season Win Total

Over 5.5 -110

Under 5.5 -120

MEGALOCKS says:

We have a neutral stance for now. The schedule is absent from a barrage of signature toughies but there will not be any real breathers. They avoid playing back-to-back road games.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

TWO THUMBS UP for the Kentucky football “Immortals” who finished ubeaten and untied whilst yielding zero points in 1898.

Kentucky’s last bowl win came in the 2008 Liberty Bowl when they defeated East Carolina by a score of 25-19.

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 4.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the WILDCATS a 4.0 ATS Value Rating (Below Average) this season.

We can’t get past the uncertainty at QB, although it does give the team some upside. They have a monster at RB and a good defense. We worry about the depth on the roster and breaking in a new PK and P.

Kentucky gets full marks for their upward trajectory, but keep in mind that HC Mark Stoops is just 40% ATS in his tenure at Kentucky and has had a hard time exceeding market expectations. They are usually good for an upset or two but it is best to pick your spots with the Wildcats.

Want more Kentucky football ?

WEBSITE

https://ukathletics.com/index.aspx?path=football

FORUM

Free

http://www.wildcatnation.net/forum/

http://www.thecatsdomain.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=8

https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/forums/wildcat-lair-football-forum.22/

http://kentucky.247sports.com/Board/Kentucky-Wildcats-Message-Board-Forum-296

NEWS

http://www.aseaofblue.com/

http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/