Cats and Cards: Numbers Game
Kentucky has its back against the wall. The Cats have painted themselves into a win-or-go-home scenario as it faces its arch enemy on Thanksgiving weekend.
Posts will be plentiful this week. First, let’s take a look at how the two teams stack up statistically:
OFFENSE
— Scoring Offense
Kentucky: 24.7 points per game
Louisville: 28
— Rush Offense
Kentucky: 169 yards per game
Louisville: 158
— Pass Offense
Kentucky: 210 yards per game
Louisville: 253
— Total Offense
Kentucky: 379 yards per game
Louisville: 398
— QB Sacks Against
Kentucky: 27
Louisville: 43
— Tackles for Loss Against
Kentucky: 74
Louisville: 86
DEFENSE
— QB Sacks
Kentucky: 17
Louisville: 30
— Tackles for Loss
Kentucky: 50
Louisville: 80
— Interceptions
Kentucky: 8
Louisville: 15
— Scoring Defense
Kentucky: 26.5 points per game
Louisville: 24.4
— Rush Defense
Kentucky: 185.36 yards per game
Louisville: 121.18
— Pass Offense
Kentucky: 200.2 yards per game
Louisville: 205
— Total Defense
Kentucky: 385 yards per game
Louisville: 326
What does this mean?
Louisville’s defensive numbers are somewhat skewed as its last five opponents rank at the bottom of the ACC in yardage and point production; however, the Cardinals are still talented with big-play propensity. Statistical support: 30 QB sacks, 80 TFL (Tackles for Loss), and 15 interceptions.
Offensively, Louisville has suffered from a similar struggle as Kentucky: inconsistent and ineffective offensive line play. Numerical support of this summation is its 43 QB sacks and 86 surrendered TFL.
Much more Governor’s Cup coverage coming this week.
11 Comments for Cats and Cards: Numbers Game
Going by the numbers this may be a UL blowout of the Cats. Being a rivalry game means it could be a close one too. GO CATS
Where do you get a blowout from this?
Many of the stats are close, and Louisville doesn’t play in the SEC…
“Louisville’s defensive numbers are somewhat skewed as its last five opponents rank at the bottom of the ACC in yardage and point production”
“Offensively, Louisville has suffered from a similar struggle as Kentucky: inconsistent and ineffective offensive line play.”
You sound more and more like a Louisville troll every day.
I based my “Blowout” comment on total numbers as UL leads in every category.
Yeah “blowout” is not a word that accurately describes the numbers. I can see how you can say the numbers say the win, but not a blowout.
All you got to do is look at quarterback sacks and see UL could have a huge advantage in time of possession and that translates into points at many times. UL makes teams turn the ball over and UK doesn’t nearly as often. Again not saying UK cannot win especially in this kind of game but the stats stack really high season wise in favor of UL. If all you two guys are going on emotion instead of facts then your argument is baseless. I am and have been a UK fan my whole life but the realism of this UK team is that it is a weak team struggling against the easiest schedule it may ever have again in the SEC and out.
So it looks like to me that if we out rush them by at least a decent margin, we have a very good chance of winning, no?
What I mean is that even given all the newfangled offenses out there, the old fashioned “run the ball and play run defense” is in order here.
I hate to sound cliche’, but this game will be won or lost based on line play.Our defensive line needs to step up, and our offensive line needs to bring it every play. We win those two areas, UK gets the victory. Not getting the job done we lose. It is that simple.
Your analysis may be cliche’ but is on target. Heck, Madden got away with less sophisticated analysis for years and was paid handsomely for his work.
Re: Rest of the Story;
Nothing in the stats listed above leads me or anyone of any sanity to project a UofL blowout. Stats without context paint an incomplete picture. These two teams this year are ab I ut even a n d both have their issues. Cats by 5.
” about even”
Do not get me wrong Monkey I really hope for the Cats to win and will gladly eat crow if they do but the history of the UK season says otherwise in big ways.