Kentucky Football - LIVE BREATHE BLUE - Heart Versus Head: Will Kentucky Football Deliver a Dream Season or a Heartbreaker?

It’s finally the end of August. Mercifully, for all the die-hard Kentucky
football fans in the Commonwealth and beyond, that means talking season is over. Time for
Stoops and crew to put up or shut up—to put behind them all the vacated wins, the “pony up”
comments, and the ill-advised courtship down in Aggieland—and start gearing up for another
season of rampant expectations and stone-cold reality.

The coup-de-gras of talking season always involves bold and daring predictions about how the
season will go. I’m no different in that regard. But this year, instead of plowing forward with
prognostications from my big blue heart, I thought I’d also include those from my worry-addled
head. It’s amazing how divergent the two can be.

Southern Miss, Ohio, Murray State, and Vanderbilt

These are the four teams on the schedule that both the heart and head readily agree on.
Referred to by many as the “stinky” teams, they’re pretty much automatic wins. The heart
thinks that Kentucky will win easily by thirty-point blowouts against all of them. The head is a
little more cautious. After all, the Cats might let up a bit against inferior competition. And
remember, Kentucky always manages to pull a stinker of their own every year. Nevertheless, all
four of these games should be stat-padding confidence building wins for the boys wearing blue.

South Carolina, Louisville

These are two teams Kentucky should also be able to beat. They both take place in the friendly
confines of Kroger Field against teams with comparable talent. The head fears that both
opposing head coaches have a bit more to gain by taking down the Wildcats, but the heart is
convinced that the home field advantage will be the ultimate difference maker. Fear not,
then—Shane Beamer and Jeff Brohm be damned—both heart and head are predicting wins on
these two critical swing games
.
Tennessee, Texas

On the other end of the spectrum, both the heart and the head agree that the odds of pulling
off victories in Knoxville and Austin are slim to none this year. As far as the Vols are concerned,
Kentucky has only won once on the orange checkerboards in the last forty years. Some may say
they’re long overdue. The heart and the head both say, “Nope.” Long suffering UK football fans
understand it’s simply not going to happen.

As for the Longhorns, they’re the new Sheriff in town. They’ll be geared up for anyone sporting
the SEC logo on their uniforms. Sarkisian can coach, the game-day atmosphere will be off the
charts, and the next to last regular season game most likely indicates the Cats will be limping to
the finish line. Time to put both of these games in the loss column.

Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Auburn

Here’s where the head and heart take radically different paths
.
Most pundits have already anointed Georgia as league champs. Not so fast says the heart. It’s
easier to get to the top than to stay on top. Plus, Brock Vandagriff will have something to prove
against his former teammates. If the wonder-boy transfer is as good as they claim, September
14 will be the day the legend begins. KENTUCKY IN A MONUMENTAL UPSET. The head on the
other hand says, “You’re nuts!” Kentucky has lost 14 in a row to Georgia, and Mark Stoops has
never sniffed a victory against the Bulldogs in his lifetime. Not going to happen this year.

The Ole Miss game is certainly winnable, and the heart predicts a huge road conquest in
Oxford. Kentucky nearly did it last time they paid a visit to The Grove. Unfortunately—says the
head—Lane Kiffin’s squad will be better than advertised. They return a boatload of offensive
firepower combined with one of the best transfer classes in the country. Enjoy the tailgating
because you’re not leaving the Magnolia State with a “W.”

Kentucky has gained the upper hand on the Gators recently, winning four out of the last six.
Coach Billy Napier’s hot seat will explode when the Cats make it five out of seven—thinks the
heart. “Not going to happen,” says the head. Just like they say in the stock market—past
performance is no indicator for future success. The atmosphere in The Swamp will be too hot to
handle. According to the head, it’s heartbreak hotel for Kentucky fans making the trip.

This isn’t your daddy’s Auburn team—claims the heart. In fact, it’s not even close in regard to
talent. Bo Jackson and Cam Newton are not walking through that door. Throw in a rabid home
crowd and you should see some happy home revelers in the Bluegrass as Halloween
approaches. But Auburn is still Auburn—cautions the head. Tradition matters. Plus, this has the
makings of the aforementioned stinker game. It’s a huge letdown as the thump, thump, thump
of basketballs reverberates and takes over.

So, there you have it. The heart claims 10 – 2 and a spot in the twelve-team playoffs. The head
fears 6 – 6 and a consolation invitation to the Independence Bowl.

Whether it’s a magical playoff run all the way to Atlanta or a mundane trip to Shreveport, one
thing’s for sure—Kentucky football fans will have plenty of reasons to keep their cardiologists
(and psychiatrists) on speed dial. Buckle up BBN, it’s going to be one exciting ride.

See you along the way.

Dr. John Huang is a retired orthodontist, military veteran, and award-winning author. He
currently serves as a reporter and sports columnist for Nolan Group Media. You can follow Dr.
Huang on social media @KYHuangs and check out his debut novel, “Name, Image, and Murder”
and all his books at https://www.Amazon.com/stores/Dr.-John-Huang/author/B092RKJBRD