Our countdown takes its second trip to the SEC, where Kentucky has earned five consecutive bowl trips. Will the Wildcats earn a sixth straight bowl spot with star receiver Randall Cobb in 2011?
2010 Record: 6-7
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2010 Skinny: Kentucky started 3-0 before hitting the skids once the SEC schedule started. The Wildcats lost to Florida, Ole Miss and Auburn, with the last two losses coming by one possession, including a three-point setback against eventual national champion Auburn. The Wildcats stayed in most games thanks to WR Randall Cobb and senior quarterback Mike Hartline, both of whom allowed UK to squeak out six wins. Kentucky finished the season with a loss to Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl.
Returning Starters: 15
Coach: Joker Phillips, (second season, 6-7)
Key Players: LB Danny Trevathan, TE Jordan Aumiller
2011 Schedule:
Sept. 1 vs. Western Kentucky
Sept. 10 vs. Central Michigan
Sept. 17 vs. Louisville
Sept. 24 vs. Florida
Oct. 1 @ LSU
Oct. 8 @ South Carolina
Oct. 22 vs. Jacksonville State
Oct. 29 vs. Mississippi State
Nov. 5 vs. Ole Miss
Nov. 12 @ Vanderbilt
Nov. 19 @ Georgia
Nov. 26 vs. Tennessee
Anthony’s Take: It will be a struggle on offense for Kentucky without Cobb, a do-it-all receiver, and the veteran Hartline. Morgan Newton has promise at quarterback. He played decent when he saw action in the bowl game. But it’s going to be impossible for the offense to keep up with last year’s pace. In 2011, Kentucky will rely on a defense that will bring back nine starters. The Wildcats are especially loaded in the secondary. But that won’t be enough in the SEC, where it’s hard to see them winning more than two league games. UK will be on the cusp of a bowl game yet again, but it’s five or six wins at best.
Jim’s Take: Not only do the ‘Cats lose Hartline and Cobb, RB Derrick Locke is also gone. Newton has talent but hasn’t shown much in his time at UK. The nonconference schedule is a breeze and should get Kentucky three victories; Vanderbilt should be a forth win. But I don’t see Kentucky winning two other games to become bowl eligible. If Phillips gets this team to a bowl, he will have earned his hiring last year.
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College Football’s FBS 120 Countdown
#120: New Mexico
#119: Memphis
#118: San Jose State
#117: Akron
#116: New Mexico State
#115: Buffalo
#114: UNLV
#113: Western Kentucky
#112: North Texas
#111: Louisiana-Lafayette
#110: Eastern Michigan
#109: Colorado State
#108: Tulane
#107: Central Michigan
#106: Kent State
#105: Rice
#104: Florida Atlantic
#103: Ball State
#102: UAB
#101: UTEP
#100: Bowling Green
#99: Utah State
#98: Louisiana-Monroe
#97: Wyoming
#96: Marshall
#95: Indiana
#94: Kansas
#93: Louisiana Tech
#92: Vanderbilt
#91: Minnesota
#90: Washington State
#89: Wake Forest
#88: Duke
#87: Virginia
#86 Purdue
#85: Iowa State
#84: Arkansas State
#83: Idaho
#82: Middle Tennessee
#81: Temple
#80: Rutgers
#79: Ohio
#78: Troy
#77: FIU
#76: Western Michigan
#75: Northern Illinois
#74: Toledo
#73: Fresno State
#72: Nevada
#71: Colorado
#70: Miami (OH)
#69: California
#68: East Carolina
