If you watch or listen to any talk shows nationally and some locally, it sounds like the result of the Alabama game has already been decided.  It seems as if no one is giving the Cats a chance in hell of beating the Tide.  In the past, the fans would probably agree.  Not this year, not after what we saw last year from our Cats.  We know if they bring their game to the field, they can compete with anyone.

I can see how some could think the Tide will stomp the Cats but I continue to come back to one key element that the media and others are ignoring.  This is not the same Kentucky that has compiled a record of 2-33-1 against the Tide over the years.  This team has become accustomed to winning, not coming so close and losing.  Some of these guys could have been freshman on the 2004 team that lost to Bama 45-17 but I guarantee they have forgotten about it along with all of the other losses they’ve seen over the years.  When I think of Alabama-Kentucky, I can only think of 1997 when the goal posts came down in Commonwealth.  I was 12, listening to the game on the radio because it wasn’t televised.  I remember screaming at the radio and staring at the wall trying to visualize the pictures being described to me.  What a game. 

This week, I don’t need a radio.  It’s going to be nationally televised on CBS.  The Tide come in ranked #2 in the country after beating up on Georgia last week.  Many say they killed UGA but if you watched the second half, Georgia played as well if not better but couldn’t dig themselves out of the hole created in the first half.  They did outscore Bama and made it closer than anyone would have expected. 

Bama is the favorite but the Cats are getting recognition nationally.  Many don’t know what to expect so they automatically pick Bama to win easily.  These people are just picking based on the name Kentucky, not the product that it has been putting on the field.  Last year they proved they could win against great teams and this game on Saturday will just be another page in the current chapter of Kentucky football.  Win or lose, as long as they compete with the Tide, it will prove to be just another step to becoming a better team.  It will be a true test of the status of the program. 

I look for the game to be closer than everyone thinks.  There will not be a lot of scoring and I think the defense that can score points will walk away with the “W”.  The running games of both teams are good but I give the edge to Alabama because of size and the fact that Justin Jeffries is out due to injury.  But, unlike the past, we have reserves that will step in and fill the void so that shouldn’t be a big factor.  Bama plays a lot of freshman on offense in the skill positions so I think the UK defensive backs and linebackers should have the edge there. 

I’ll end this with a quick thought.  The last time Nick Saban coached against the Cats, the Hail Mary play happened.  Now, the Cats have proven that those days are behind them and that they are the team getting the good breaks.  Here’s to hoping the good breaks go the Cats way on Saturday and beware of strange plays, they always seem to happen in big games.  GO CATS!