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Five quick thoughts on the “new” UK football schedule

Published December 28, 2011 10:48 am UK football 3 Comments

Five quick thoughts on the new UK football schedule:

1. Mississippi State will make a return visit to Commonwealth Stadium. After playing at UK last season, beating the Cats 28-16 in that black-out game, the Bulldogs give up the return home game for a second straight trip to Lexington. Mississippi State is Kentucky’s “permanent” or yearly opponent from the SEC West. From UK’s point of view, that’s a good thing. The two programs have been fairly equal over the last few years.

2. The defending national champs will not be coming to Commonwealth. That would have been the case under the old schedule, if LSU beats Alabama in the BCS title game. But after beating Joker Phillips’ team 35-7 this past season in Baton Rouge, LSU’s return game to Lexington has been scrapped under the new schedule.

3. The way the schedule is now set up, Kentucky will now be visiting the two Columbias in the same year. UK plays host to South Carolina in 2012, travels to Missouri. For comparison sake, the distance from Lexington to Columbia, Missouri for the Oct. 27 game against Mizzou is 463 miles. The distance from Lexington to Columbia, South Carolina is 433 miles.

4. Kentucky’s off date has been time-shifted to later in the year. UK was supposed to have an open date on Sept. 22, but that has now been filled by a road game at Florida. Instead, the Cats will have an open week on Nov. 10, just before a home game with Samford and the season-finale at Tennessee.

5. If Kentucky could win at Louisville in the opener — a tough task — the Cats should be 3-0 heading to Florida on Sept. 22. It gets tough from there, especially considering that Arkansas replaces Ole Miss as UK’s “other” SEC West foe in 2012. Aside from the Mississippi State game on Oct. 6, it could be tough for UK to get a win before it travels to Missouri on Oct. 27. And the Tigers are coming off a beat-down of North Carolina in the Independence Bowl. Joker Phillips could be 3-5 going to Mizzou needing a strong finish to be bowl eligible.

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3 Responses to “Five quick thoughts on the “new” UK football schedule”

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  1. 1 Mark Liptak December 28, 2011 12:30 pm at 12:30 pm

    It looks like one conference win (maybe two) to me.

    Mark Liptak

  2. 2 s.smith December 28, 2011 3:22 pm at 3:22 pm

    Only Two SEC Wins Mark ?? Sounds much like what Jerry Tipton would say. Guess you have not any faith in the Joker or Mitch ?? Oh well happy holidays plenty of exciting bowl games to watch.

  3. 3 Mark Liptak December 28, 2011 5:21 pm at 5:21 pm

    Smith:

    Obviously you haven’t been watching Kentucky football the past two seasons. Two possible wins is giving them the benefit of the doubt.

    Thank God for basketball is all I can say.

    Mark Liptak

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