2010 Kentucky Wildcats Preview Odds

Kentucky Wildcats

7-6, 6-7 ATS, 3rd Place in SEC East

Odds to Win 2010 BCS Championship: +20000
Odds to Win SEC 300/1
at Bookmaker Sportsbook

The Kentucky Wildcats have come into some recent success, appearing in three of the L/4 Music City Bowls and winning twice. First year head coach Joker Phillips is expected to take the Wildcats a bit further. Kentucky is looking for its first outright SEC championship since 1950 under the great Bear Bryant. With no clear offensive leader and work to do on defense, Kentucky will have a tough time trying to break through.

Offensive Outlook: It is not obvious who will get the starting job at quarterback. Last year, junior Mike Hartline and freshman Morgan Newton split the job. Hartline threw for 802 yards, six touchdowns, and seven picks, while Newton racked up 706 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. Without a defined leader so late in the off-season, the offense could suffer. That said, it will be difficult to once again be the 114th ranked passing offense in the nation, with just 140.3 yards per game. On the bright side, the team’s two big offense weapons are back. Derrick Locke provided a running and receiving option, with 908 yards on 196 carries and 284 yards on 31 receptions, totaling eight scores. The other dual threat is receiver Randall Cobb. Despite the WR label, he ran for 573 yards on 93 carries and ten touchdowns, while leading his fellow receivers with 447 yards and four scores. Whoever starts at quarterback will at least have two very versatile options.

Defensive Outlook: The Wildcats defense allowed 360.5 yards per game, putting them at 54th nationally. However, 182.9 of those yards came on the ground, ranking the Wildcats at 100th. This is likely to be another issue this year, as the defense stays young and lacks depth at every position. Linebacker Sam Maxwell led the 17th ranked passing defense with six interceptions. This year, he has graduated, and it is unclear who will be able to lead this sophomore-heavy unit.

The Final Word: Kentucky will likely struggle in the SEC again this year, while hovering around .500 overall. Cobb and Locke will be great assets, but a not-defined quarterback position is never a good thing. Making any bowl game this year would be a fantastic accomplishment.

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Prediction: 6-6, 4th place in SEC East

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule
9/4 @ Louisville
9/11 Western Kentucky
9/18 Akron
9/25 @ Florida
10/2 @ Mississippi
10/9 Auburn
10/16 South Carolina
10/23 Georgia
10/30 @ Mississippi State
11/6 Charleston Southern
11/13 Vanderbilt
11/27 @ Tennessee