SEC East and ACC Coastal Episode I: Kentucky and Duke

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Kentucky found a way to get bowl eligible last season despite injuries, poor quarterback play and no true offensive identity.  This season Hartline should be better, Randall Cobb will be a full time wide out and they have some quality running backs returning. 

In playing USC, Auburn, and UGA on this down year the Wildcats have an opportunity to make some waves in these three swing games.

Dream vs Nightmare Season

For the Blue Devils their dream season is an 8-4 masterpiece by Cutcliffe.  Getting the Devils to their first bowl game since Spurrier and putting them squarely in the thick of the ACC Coastal race. 

Losses to VT, NC State, UNC, GT, and Miami appear to be inevitable however, stealing a win from one of those schools while completing their soft non-conference schedule while beating UVA, Wake and Maryland would land the Devils in a heavenly scenario.

On the flipside of the dream scenario is the Blue Devil nightmare.  Losing all league games plus contests with FCS Richmond and Kansas would truly set the Blue Devils back into the “loser” stratosphere they’ve inhabited since the departure of Spurrier.

In Lexington the dream mark would be a 9-3 season and finishing second to Florida in the east.  Losing to the machines from Gainesville and Tuscaloosaplus just one loss in the final three contests (UGA, Vandy, Tenn) would set the Cats up for their fourth straight bowl bid.

Nightmarishly speaking the Wildcats are only an injuries away from staring down the barrel of a 3-9 season.  If Cobb and Hartline both struggle and suffer their offense would be incapable of point production to assist the stout defense Brooks will trot out this season. 

Losing all their league games plus the rivalry game with Louisville is not out of the realm of possibilities given Brooks’ anemic 27 percent winning rate in SEC play.

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