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At 5-1, Wildcats have Bigger Goals than Bowl Eligibility

Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)

 

The 2017 Kentucky Wildcats are 5-1 heading into a much-needed bye week. However, when you talk to fans, they would lead you to believe the team is 1-5. Why is that?

 

The Wildcats have looked less than impressive in most wins, but the key word is WINS. A win goes on the left side of the win/loss column and that is the ultimate goal. The only eye test you need to pass is the win/loss record and through five games, Stoops’ Wildcats are doing just that.

 

You can say what you want about defensive miscues, wide-open receivers, conservative play calling, missed tackles, not finding the tight end and any other complaint that you would like to have. Yet, the main point is despite not playing their best football, Kentucky is 5-1 with very winnable games on the back end of the schedule.

 

Stoops and most of the seniors on this team are familiar with 5-1, as the Wildcats owned an identical record midway through the 2014 season. That season and the next one that started 4-1, both spiraled out of control to 5-7 finishes. Despite last season’s 7-5 record, fans are cautiously optimistic about the Wildcats chances in the second half of the season.

 

Following a bye week, Kentucky will travel to Mississippi State for the annual East/West crossover matchup with the Bulldogs. A win would give the Wildcats bowl eligibility through seven games for the first time since the 2007 team began the season 6-1, only to finish 7-5. The question is can this group of Wildcats sustain early season success?

 

The Wildcats next four opponents are Miss State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt. Those four teams have a combined SEC record of 1-9. Four very winnable conference games that would put Kentucky at 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the SEC before a road trip to Georgia. Even if the Wildcats drop a game at Georgia, they return home to face annual rival Louisville in the season finale.

 

So, what does that all mean? It means that Kentucky has a chance to have its best season since 1984 when the Wildcats finished 9-3. Yes, that was the last time Kentucky won at least 8 regular season games. In fact, every current team in the SEC has had at least an 8-win regular season since 1984.

 

The Wildcats have a chance to add their name to that list, needing just three more wins in the last six games. Fans may be cautious to believe it, but Kentucky has a great opportunity to achieve that. And if they do, you can’t say a thing about Mark Stoops.

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