Western Kentucky @ Kentucky preview
Kroger Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2008 ) Western Kentucky 3, Kentucky 41
Kentucky, which beat one in-state opponent in the opener last week, takes on another Saturday in Western Kentucky.
The Wildcats jumped on Louisville early and held on for a 23-16 win in the debut of head coach Joker Phillips. Kentucky was led by senior quarterback Mike Hartline and versatile receiver Randall Cobb. Equally adept in the air on the ground, Kentucky finished with 466 yards - 236 passing and 230 rushing.
Kentucky (1-0) struggled in the second half last week, but it should be smooth sailing on Saturday in Lexington. Western Kentucky (0-1) has lost 21 consecutive games, the longest losing streak in the country.
The Hilltoppers were drubbed by Nebraska 49-10 last week. Last season, they were 101st in total offense and 118th in total defense.
If there’s any consolation for Western Kentucky, it can look to its running game. Running back Bobby Rainey ran for a career-high 155 yards against Nebraska, which had the ninth-ranked rushing defense in 2009. That could bode well for the Hilltoppers because Kentucky allowed 182.9 yards per game last season and watched Louisville’s Bilal Powell rush for a career-best 153 yards last week.
So while Western Kentucky could have some success running the ball, the problem is that its run defense can’t stop anybody. The Hilltoppers surrendered 289 rushing yards to Nebraska, allowing nearly nine yards a carry. Kentucky’s Derrick Locke, who ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns last week, will look to exploit that weakness and Cobb, who lines up all over the field, presents matchup problems for even the best of defenses.
Kentucky finished 7-6 last season, losing to Clemson in the Music City Bowl. Phillips, who was the offensive coordinator the last two seasons, returns just five starters and only one offensive lineman. Hartline was the starter before a knee injury sidelined him. He was sharp in his return, completing 17-of-26 passes for 217 yards.
Western Kentucky is led by QB Kawaun Jakes. A dual threat, the sophomore held his own against the Cornhuskers and completed passes to eight different Hilltoppers. New head coach Willie Taggart has scrapped the spread offense of the previous regime in favor of a more traditional attack.
Kentucky, which has been to bowl games the last four years, typically fares pretty well outside of the Southeastern Conference East. Western Kentucky shows signs of improving and Taggart said he believes this team can be pretty good.
The teams met in 2008, with the Wildcats rolling to a 41-3 victory.