The Official 2012 College Football Thread

[MrSplitshot]

Well boys, we're less than a month from the start of the fall season on the college gridiron.

I'd be lying if I said I was excited about my Wildcats prospective season, but as a Kentucky fan I am well conditioned for being able to thoroughly enjoy college football even with my home team trudging through mediocrity. (UK fans may be wishing for mediocrity before this season is over...yikes...)

September 2, at 3:30PM, at the Pizza Pit in the 'Ville, Kentucky squares off with Louisville. Let's hear your predictions for the game, and for the season for each squad...

I predict:
UL 31
UK 13

Oh, and this doesn't have to be a UK-UL thread...we can talk about those other less-significant schools too.

---

Date	Kentucky Football Schedule Opponent
Sept. 2, 2012	at Louisville
Sept. 8, 2012	Kent State
Sept. 15, 2012	Western Kentucky
Sept. 22, 2012	at Florida (ESPN Pre-Season #23)
Sept. 29, 2012	South Carolina (ESPN Pre-Season #9)
Oct. 6, 2012	Miss. State
Oct. 13, 2012	at Arkansas (ESPN Pre-Season #10)
Oct. 20, 2012	Georgia (ESPN Pre-Season #6)
Oct. 27, 2012	at Missouri
Nov. 3, 2012	Vanderbilt
Nov. 17, 2012	Samford
Nov. 24, 2012	at Tennessee
Bowl Game

---

Date	Louisville Football Schedule Opponent
Sept. 2, 2012	Kentucky
Sept. 8, 2012	Missouri State
Sept. 15, 2012	North Carolina
Sept. 22, 2012	at Florida Int'l
Sept. 29, 2012	at Southern Miss.
Oct. 13, 2012	at Pittsburgh
Oct. 20, 2012	South Florida
Oct. 26, 2012	Cincinnati
Nov. 3, 2012	Temple
Nov. 10, 2012	at Syracuse
Nov. 24, 2012	Connecticut
Nov. 29, 2012	at Rutgers
Bowl Game

[Tyme2fish]

I feel your pain.
I'm a graduate of Purdue. I always hope but never expect gridiron success.
Locally, I'll root for UL over UK because of the big brother little brother syndrome.

Being a grad of Purdue I also have to hope that PU beats IU .

Be easy on me people. It's just sports. My daddy could whip your daddy,but my daddy has been buried since 1982.

[Whitebass]

average college football fan here, but to say that both U of L and Uk have steller schedules this year is a mute point....Both schedules look very weak, but I'll give the edge to UK playing in the SEC......If that lack of experience coach at UK can't get 5 to 6 wins outta that schedule, they do need to replace him for sure....You should get at least 3 to 4 wins from your OCC and then you'll only need to gain 2 more wins to qualify for a bowl game...

But now that I read that the NCAA has dropped the win number to only 5 games...Then most if not 85% of the Division 1 teams will qualify for a bowl game...So in reality it's all about making money for the NCAA and giving some back to the Schools....The whole Bowl selection process is a joke in itself and needs to be completely revamped...... The Bowl system should be about putting the very best out there to be on display for doing a very outstanding job on the field each year...You play great and your reward is a bowl game with say at least 8 wins in the season.....

But the whole thing is about the $$$$$...so they put every team out on the field and let them play an extra game at the end of the season, so the TV Stations, League and Advertiser's can make more money......

U of L's schedule looks like a patsy schedule for some upsets and some wins to go maybe 10-2 in one of the weakest conference's out there.....Yeah, there expected to win their Conference this year, but really what does that mean..Nothing but a trophy for winning in a Patsy League against some of the weakest college football teams in the NCAA....I'll most likely hear grief from the U of L fans who are on this board, but come on people..If you were in a legit Conference and actually had to play Teams that are in the Big 12, SEC, ACC or even the Big 10, you'd be lucky to win 5 games each year.... Given that the 4 OCC games are against bottom barrel feeder's in the NCAA....

[DJD]

Uk will prolly not make a Bowl game until they lower it to 3 wins. Or get rid of Joker. That being said I predict alot of fun at tailgating parties at the home games.
Looking forward to some football in the SEC! We plan on hitting a Tenn home game since my girlfriend is a Vol fan and from what I hear Neyland Stadium is something to see!

[mhall]

I respect you Q as a real UK fan when it pertains to football. MANY UK fans only support the pigskin for the respective school when they expect a winning season or at least a shot at beating UofL.
There were over 5000 tickets given to the Cats for this years game in PJ's stadium and over 2000 have been returned and are now being sold to whomever. I'm sorry guys but that is just sad. Joker is s stand up guy, love him or hate him, he is class and is trying to do a good job with this team. A little support could be a big booster shot, but instead the Cat fans have turned their backs on this team completely.

Congratulations Brian on being a REAL fan through thick and thin. I say the Cards win this one easily but UK can beat them, if they win the turn over battle and rush Bridgewater. It wouldn't schock me if the upset was done, you still have to play the game.

[MrSplitshot]

average college football fan here, but to say that both U of L and Uk have steller schedules this year is a mute point....Both schedules look very weak, but I'll give the edge to UK playing in the SEC......If that lack of experience coach at UK can't get 5 to 6 wins outta that schedule, they do need to replace him for sure....

UK's schedule may be weak-ER than normal, because we're not playing one of the SEC West "powers" this year (aka Alabama or LSU), but our schedule is far from weak. There are still 4 pre-season Top 25 teams in there. Kentucky will win 4, maybe 5 games, at best.

Louisville's schedule does look substantially weaker than Kentucky's, in my opinion. I'd expect them to win several games.

No team with a record any less than 7-5 should go to a bowl, in my opinion, and there should be a playoff system.

[mhall]

Louisville can't really help the hand they were delt this year on the scheduling. With all the leaves out of the BE it made it sting pretty bad. With that said the BE has never gotten any national love from anyone and especially now, never will. Louisville will be way better than 7 and 5 in my opinion.
I see Louisville in the Big 12 in the next year or two. Jurich is all over it and why wouldn't they want the largest money grossing athletic department in the nation last year, it's a no brainer.

[know1]

That being said I predict alot of fun at tailgating parties at the home games.
Looking forward to some football in the SEC! We plan on hitting a Tenn home game since my girlfriend is a Vol fan and from what I hear Neyland Stadium is something to see!

I'm with you on this. I have my UK parking pass again this year, but haven't even bothered to buy tickets to the games. I'm just going to see if someone will give me some for free prior to the game or right after it's started and if not, I'll go back to the car and watch/listen to it and continue to tailgate.

[Tim_T]

average college football fan here, but to say that both U of L and Uk have steller schedules this year is a mute point....Both schedules look very weak, but I'll give the edge to UK playing in the SEC......If that lack of experience coach at UK can't get 5 to 6 wins outta that schedule, they do need to replace him for sure....You should get at least 3 to 4 wins from your OCC and then you'll only need to gain 2 more wins to qualify for a bowl game...

But now that I read that the NCAA has dropped the win number to only 5 games...Then most if not 85% of the Division 1 teams will qualify for a bowl game...So in reality it's all about making money for the NCAA and giving some back to the Schools....The whole Bowl selection process is a joke in itself and needs to be completely revamped...... The Bowl system should be about putting the very best out there to be on display for doing a very outstanding job on the field each year...You play great and your reward is a bowl game with say at least 8 wins in the season.....

But the whole thing is about the $$$$$...so they put every team out on the field and let them play an extra game at the end of the season, so the TV Stations, League and Advertiser's can make more money......

U of L's schedule looks like a patsy schedule for some upsets and some wins to go maybe 10-2 in one of the weakest conference's out there.....Yeah, there expected to win their Conference this year, but really what does that mean..Nothing but a trophy for winning in a Patsy League against some of the weakest college football teams in the NCAA....I'll most likely hear grief from the U of L fans who are on this board, but come on people..If you were in a legit Conference and actually had to play Teams that are in the Big 12, SEC, ACC or even the Big 10, you'd be lucky to win 5 games each year.... Given that the 4 OCC games are against bottom barrel feeder's in the NCAA....

I will agree the schedule doesn't look good, but I will take issue with one thing you said. The ACC has been historically not as good as the Big east in the years since Louisville joined the league. This has been proven by the RPI ratings and in head to head matchups. If anybody ought to be worried about losing BCS status it should be the ACC and not the Big East.

Edited to add, I see Louisville going 10-2 or 9-3 and they will lose at least one game they shouldn't. Despite having 18 returning lettermen from last year, they are still young, as most of those returning are Sophomores. They have experience, but it is young experience. BTW I was at practice Saturday, and Teddy Bridgewater is a beast. No more scrawny arms and legs he has pout on about 35 pounds of muscle.

[MrSplitshot]

There were over 5000 tickets given to the Cats for this years game in PJ's stadium and over 2000 have been returned and are now being sold to whomever. I'm sorry guys but that is just sad. Joker is s stand up guy, love him or hate him, he is class and is trying to do a good job with this team. A little support could be a big booster shot, but instead the Cat fans have turned their backs on this team completely.

I agree with you wholeheartedly on the ticket situation for PJS being sad...Kentucky football fans are some of the fairest-weather fans on the planet. They'll let a meet at Keeneland take precedent over getting to a football game, even in a season where we are winning/decent. If it aint hoops, they'll drop it like a hot rock with little to know consideration...

[MrSplitshot]

Louisville can't really help the hand they were delt this year on the scheduling. With all the leaves out of the BE it made it sting pretty bad. With that said the BE has never gotten any national love from anyone and especially now, never will. Louisville will be way better than 7 and 5 in my opinion.
I see Louisville in the Big 12 in the next year or two. Jurich is all over it and why wouldn't they want the largest money grossing athletic department in the nation last year, it's a no brainer.

Also agreed. I think it would be good for Louisville to take a trip to the Big 12.

[psprowler]

[QUOTE=MrSplitshot;496117]Well boys, we're less than a month from the start of the fall season on the college gridiron.

I'd be lying if I said I was excited about my Wildcats prospective season, but as a Kentucky fan I am well conditioned for being able to thoroughly enjoy college football even with my home team trudging through mediocrity. (UK fans may be wishing for mediocrity before this season is over...yikes...)

September 2, at 3:30PM, at the Pizza Pit in the 'Ville, Kentucky squares off with Louisville. Let's hear your predictions for the game, and for the season for each squad...

I predict:
UL 31
UK 13

Oh, and this doesn't have to be a UK-UL thread...we can talk about those other less-significant schools too.
QUOTE]

I've got really nothing to say except for lets see how many SEC teams will claim a "good" victory over supposedly #23 ranked Florida. The gators will win their first 3 or 4 games against ham'n'eggers and will baloon up to about 15 or so in the rankings before they get exposed. Then they'll lose a game or two, win a game or two and manage to hang right around the bottom of the top 25. Then when late November rolls around and they are 6-5 there will be 11-1 SEC teams using a victory over "a top 20 team" that never actually was...........