2009 Kentucky Wildcats College Football Predictions

2009 Kentucky Wildcats Predictions
2008 Record: (7-6, 2-6)
Coach: Rich Brooks, 7th year (32-41 at Kentucky; 123-150-4 overall)
Off. Coordinator: Joker Phillips(5th year)
Def. Coordinator: Steve Brown (3rd year)
Returning Starters: 13 (7 offense, 5 defense, kicker)
Ret. Starting Quarterback: Yes (Mike Hartline)

Need winning college football predictions each week? Visit ATS Consultants and sign-up for the free sports picks newsletter for college football betting information and free college football picks

Offense: Rich Brooks hopes that a formerly-great offense will return to form after producing just 22.6ppg (87th in the nation) and 299.3 yards per game (106th in the nation). Junior QB Mike Hartline (6-6, 204) returns after an erratic season that ended well with a Liberty Bowl victory over East Carolina. He threw for 1,666 yards and is accurate, but doesn’t have the strongest arm. The Wildcats’ biggest threat is sophomore WR Randall Cobb (316 yards), who is the most productive receiver returning. He’ll also see some time at qb in their “Wildcat” package. At running back, senior Alfonso Smith (6-1, 204), who rushed for 313 yards last season, is the likely starter. He has 4.3 speed and also has the ability as a receiver. The ofefnsive line returns three of five starters from a line that gave up a league-low 13 sacks.

Defense: The defense returns five starters from a unit that allowed just 21.5ppg (35th in the nation) and 332.4 yards per game overall (40th). They’ll miss the contributions of tackle Myron Pryor, a big force in the middle. They do return senior end Jeremy Jarmon(6-3, 279), who recorded 4.5 sacks last season, which was half his 2007 total. Senior DT Corey Peters (6-3, 295) was solid last season, with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. At linebacker, they return senior Micah Johnson (6-2, 256), an All-SEC pick, who led the team in tackles with 93 last season. Senior Sam Maxwell (6-3, 244) moves from dependable backup to starter on the strong side. The secondary returns senior CB Trevard Lindley (6-0, 175), who had four picks last year. Lindley is a shut down corner and one of the nation’s best, who probably won’t see a lot of balls thrown in his direction this year.

Outlook: The Wildcats’ face Miami (OH) in Cincinnati to start the season, and then face Louisville at home. A home game against Florida could be interesting. They also take on UL Monroe and Eastern Kentucky at home. The non-conference schedule is doable, but the conference schedule is brutal, adding tough road games against Auburn, South Carolina, Vandy and Georgia. That makes a bowl game a very difficult task.

This SEC conference prediction is courtesy of the ATS Sports Blog. If you are looking for winning college football betting picks be sure to choose ATS Consultants this year, A featured sports handicapping service on Touthouse.com