Something Has to Give: Kentucky vs. South Carolina
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The 1-2 Kentucky Wildcats will be taking on the 2-1 South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday in the friendly confines of Commonwealth Stadium. These two teams are worlds apart statistically speaking. Let’s take a look:
OFFENSE
Scoring Points Per Game: SEC/National Ranking
Kentucky: 34.7, SEC-4th, Nation-54th
South Carolina 15.7, SEC-14th, Nation-120th
Rushing Yards Per Game
Kentucky: 190.33, SEC-6th
South Carolina: 90.67, SEC-14th, Nation-122nd
Passing Yards Per Game
Kentucky: 226.3, SEC-7th
South Carolina: 197, SEC-9th
Total Yards Per Game
Kentucky: 416.7, SEC-8th
South Carolina: 287.7, SEC-13th Nation-123rd
Tackles for Loss Allowed
Kentucky: 21, SEC-13th
South Carolina: 20, SEC-9th
QB Sacks Allowed
Kentucky: 9, SEC 12th
South Carolina: 4, SEC-5th
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DEFENSE
Points Allowed Per Game: SEC/National Ranking
Kentucky: 43.7, SEC-14th, Nation-122nd
South Carolina: 17.3, SEC-4th
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game
Kentucky: 243, SEC-14th, Nation-116th
South Carolina: 192.67, SEC-12th
Passing Yards Allowed Per Game
Kentucky: 285, SEC-14th, Nation- 112th
South Carolina: 222.7, SEC-6th
Total Yards Allowed Per Game
Kentucky: 528, SEC-14th, Nation-122nd
South Carolina: 453, SEC-10th
Tackles for Loss Per Game
Kentucky: 16, SEC-11th
South Carolina: 21, SEC-4th
QB Sacks Per Game
Kentucky: 4, SEC-10th
South Carolina: 5, SEC-7th
What does all this mean?
Either Kentucky or South Carolina will uncharacteristically win the football game.
Kentucky wins if: The Cats simply outscore the Gamecocks in a shootout.
South Carolina wins if: The Gamecocks hold the UK offense to significantly lower point and yardage totals than their season average and score 30 plus points.
In a matchup of one of the nation’s worst offenses going head to head with one of the country’s worst defenses, something will have to give. Whichever team shows the most improvement within their personnel, structure, and schematic weaknesses will conquer in a September SEC East showdown.
12 Comments for Something Has to Give: Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Freddie, Good job calling the game Sat. I know your not going to say but i would love to know who you think the Quarterback should be against S.C.
in conclusion, both teams are close or at the bottom of the barrel. So I agree with your assessment that it will be uncharacteristic victory, but we need this win more so we can justify huge investments in our program.
Any shot at all we can snag 5 of the next 9 games for a bowl?
Speaking of bowls, can you pass that one over to me? I would like a hit of that primo stuff you’re smoking, LC! 😀
Yup, I don’t think a bowl is out of the question.
New Mexico state- won
South Carolina- 75%
Missouri- 60%
Vanderbilt- 80%
Austin Peay- 99%
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Miss State- 50%
Tennessee- 20%
Alabama- 2%
Georgia – 35%
Louisville- 10%
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All of these percentages are on the optimistic side.
If anything, I just hope we are not eliminted from bowl eligibility before we play Louisville. It will just make the game that much more fun to watch.
I, too, hope we are not eliminated from a bowl prior to playing Louisville. I think the key words in regards to the percentages of chances for victory, truly are “on the optimistic side.”
But, hey, keep the faith dude, you are a good fan.
How can a major college team with out fan base, our new facilities, and our high paid coaching staff be this bad? It defies logic….
It is called having an inept AD, who doesn’t have a clue about hiring a coach.
Huh. Look purely at those (uuuugly) numbers, it would seem the biggest disparity is UK’s rush O vs. USC’s rush D. So maybe the Boom and Benny show could have a big day. Of course, USC has played a much stronger schedule so far so that may not mean anything.
Defense wins games and Florida proved that to a high degree against UK. SC has a much better defense and the only X factor here is does Johnson play or Barker. Who puts more pressure on opposing defenses. We know that answer and it’s not the statue waiting to get sacked it’s the moving target that can run or pass. The other problem is the head man on each sideline and UK is surly lacking there.
USC is ranked 122nd in rushing offense at 90 yds per game. After gashing us for about 300 on Saturday, it should move them up quite a bit.
No one in their right mind can look at what we did the past three weeks and feel good about this game. We got into a shootout with NM St. I am hoping for a statement win, but at this point I’d just be happy to still be in the game at half.