Kentucky Wildcats Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds
As the 2011 NCAA Football Season approaches, we are providing season previews for every college football teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best College Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Football in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2011 NCAA Football Season Previews here.
2010 Record: 6-7 SEC Record: 2-6 (5th, East) 2011 Returning Starters: 14: 5 offense, 7 defense, punter, kicker
Coach: Joker Phillips, 6-7 (1 year)
Offensive Coordinators: Randy Sanders Defensive Coordinators: Steve Brown, Rick Minter
2011 Kentucky Players to Watch: QB Morgan Newton, WR La’Rod King, OG Larry Warford, OG Stuart Hines, LB Danny Trevathan, S Winston Guy
2011 Kentucky Strengths:
The Wildcats return four starters on the offensive line, including two potential All-SEC candidates in Warford and Hines. Newton had a solid spring throwing the ball and could blossom in his first full season as a starter. Minter’s new schemes could invigorate an experienced defense.
2011 Kentucky Weaknesses:
The offense doesn’t have any proven playmakers surrounding Newton, and the receivers struggled to catch the ball in the spring. Kentucky has always had trouble stopping the run, and the defensive line is small and doesn’t have much depth.
2011 Kentucky Offense:
Kentucky coach Joker Phillips, a former offensive coordinator, has had to start over on offense before, and this season he’ll do it again. Gone are quarterback Mike Hartline, tailback Derrick Locke and wide receiver Randall Cobb, the most valuable and versatile player on the offense for three seasons. The biggest opportunity belongs to quarterback Morgan Newton, the heir apparent to Hartline who has nine career starts but has been inconsistent in throwing the ball downfield. Newton has passed for 971 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions his two years. To get them, he’ll need help from a decimated receiving corps that will lean heavily on junior La’Rod King and hopes for breakout years from senior Matt Roark and sophomore Brian Adams, also a starter on the UK baseball team. Sophomore Raymond Sanders should be the featured tailback, though true freshmen Marcus Caffey and Josh Clemons will have an opportunity to earn early reps. Experience isn’t an issue on the line, where four of five starters return. The fifth spot is right tackle, where senior Billy Joe Murphy has nine career starts.
2011 Kentucky Defense:
Kentucky’s top 11 tacklers return, but the defense will have a brand-new look. Rick Minter joins the staff as co-defensive coordinator with Steve Brown, but Minter will call plays and set the defensive philosophy. The new look will be a multiple-set defense with a variety of 4-3 and 3-4 alignments, and the Wildcats will show a 4-2-5 look with several players shifting into hybrid roles. Safety Winston Guy will line up at linebacker. Linebacker Ridge Wilson will rush the passer as a defensive end. Kentucky will look for defensive line anchors in sophomores Mister Cobble and Donte Rumph, who weren’t listed as starters coming out of spring but are the most purely talented tackles. The star of the defense is linebacker Danny Trevathan, who passed on the NFL Draft after posting an SEC-leading 144 tackles and returns for his senior season 10 pounds heavier and hoping for an even bigger year. The secondary was the Cats’ most consistent unit in the spring, and there are high hopes for this group with four starters returning.
2011 Kentucky Special Teams:
Senior Ryan Tydlacka averaged 43.8 yards per punt last year, while junior Craig McIntosh connected on 11 of 15 field goal attempts. The biggest issue will be replacing Cobb and Locke on kickoff and punt returns. Randall Burden, Raymond Sanders and Martavius Neloms auditioned in the spring, and several freshmen will get an opportunity in fall camp.
| 2011 Kentucky Football Schedule | Kentucky Football Sportsbooks |
2011 Kentucky Predictions:
Kentucky has made five straight bowl games, the first four under Phillips’ predecessor, Rich Brooks. With its offense so wiped out, a sixth will be a tall order. The postseason recipe remains the same: The Wildcats need to sweep their non-conference games and find a way to win two SEC games. The margin for error shrinks if Kentucky falls to resurgent rival Louisville in Week 3.
2011 Kentucky Betting Odds:
Kentucky Current odds to win a National Championship: +5000
Will Kentucky go to a Bowl Game this season or will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy Kentucky Football Betting at our feature sportsbooks. College Football Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of loot placing informed, smart Utah bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.
NCAA Football Handicapping Picks
Check out our weekly Sports Handicapping Picks from the world’s best handicappers. Trust our handicapping experts offering premium and free NCAA Football Picks and packages daily. Also stay up to date with weekly College Football Matchups, and buy some picks to win some BIG cash this football season at our recommended sportsbooks.
Bet on Kentucky
If you are looking for the best Online Sportsbook to bet on the Kentucky this season, then BetOnline.com with their Better Bonus Guarantee, is the place for you. BetOnline.com has NCAA Football Betting Lines and Odds, along with a tons of futures on the 2011 Season, so get your college football bets in early while the lines are hot!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.