I (Charlie Strong) Am On A Horse: Cards-Cats 2010 Prediction Thread

I read these after I posted mine, but it looks like there is a consensus forming:

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2010100903015

What a crazy image. I don’t think I like it.

The talent just isn’t there and Coach Strong hasn’t had enough time to build the program. I’ll be at the game, I’ll be screaming my head off, but I don’t expect a victory. I will be thrilled if we can finish the game without a too many men on the field or illegal formation penalty.

I am also a little worried about how UK fans will react to Joker if he loses right out of the gate. I think he will have to over-perform to be comfortable in Lexington because there’s something about him that many UK fans don’t trust. They can’t quite put their finger on it, but it’s the same thing they couldn’t trust about Tubby Smith and Barack Obama.

I can’t pick us to lose against Kentucky. 17-13 Cards.

I don’t think that UK fans will jump all over Joker like they did Tubby. Mainly because I don’t think they care about football that much. If they suck this season, but beat Tennessee, he will be a god.

If Steve Kragthorpe could get it to 4 points, at Commonwealth, with the backup QB, after an option call on 4th and 2 and a muffed punt, I refuse to believe that Charlie Strong loses to UK by 18 points (three possessions!) at home. I’m not saying we win (though I think we can), but it’s not going to be that bad.

For the record, the score of the South Carolina-Southern Miss game was 41-13. We’re better than Southern Miss, and South Carolina is better than UK. Plus, it was at South Carolina. Not to mention, look at the Hawai’i-USC game to see an example of what home field advantage and a well-executes offense can do for you (though in all fairness, the Run n Shoot is arguably the hardest offense to defend). That was a 13 point game, and the difference in size, speed, and talent was far greater there. Not to mention Hawai’i went through three quarterbacks in one game, and their starter was a walk-on and pizza delivery boy last year.

So yeah, if Charlie Strong could see your 31-13 “prediction”… well, you should be afraid.

Where’s your faith in the Cardiac Cards? Heart, passion, and fierce preparation can beat talent and experience.

A few notable examples:

Louisville hoops beats #1 Syracuse (twice) in 2009-10

Louisville hoops beats #1 Kentucky at Rupp in 2003-04

Louisville football stuns #4 Florida St. in 2004

Louisville hoops (a team that went 12-20) beats #4 and eventual National Champions Kentucky at Rupp in 1997-98.

Ok, so there are alot of hoops examples. But point being, it can be done. And beating Kentucky this year wouldn’t be a monumental upset anyway, especially when compared to the ones above (and a slew of others). Our boys remember last year. Every last one of them.

I say it’s anyone’s game. Statistics are thrown completely out the window in a rivalry game.

Whatever happens, I just want to see our kids PLAY THEIR BALLS OFF!

GO CARDS!

Do you honestly think UK is 18 points better? In The Oven? In HCCS’s first game? Wow! I think you’ve got some Kragthorpian hangover mojo working there, bro. UK is not that many points better than Louisville. Are they better? Yes, on paper UK has a slightly better roster, especially at a couple of key skill positions. You know what just might wipe that out completely? The desire on Louisville’s side. In every emotional relevant way, Louisville has the edge. And I think that really does matter in the college game. Have faith! Louisville wins this one or loses by a much closer final score than 31-13.

Thank you for my 5 minute long laugh.

…or the UK defense being that good. Coach Strong has alot of faith in the O-Line, running game, and coaching staff. Neither teams defense is capable of stopping the other teams offense, so I think it will be a shootout, with the Cards winning 38-35.

Oh yeah, Doug Beaumont has his 1st catch for a TD, Powell and Anderson each score twice, and Froman scarmbles for score. Philpott kicks a 40 yarder and is perfect for the game, making every kick count.