/State faces showdown – and it’s not Florida

State faces showdown – and it’s not Florida

Fans knew that the Bulldogs would win the first four games. This would lead to a major showdown against Mullen’s Gators. There have been slight changes in plans. While the Florida game and Mullen’s return are still huge, there is a much more difficult task seven days prior: Kentucky’s undefeated Wildcats at Lexington. This Lexington has never been a particularly welcoming place for State. State will face Kentucky, which will be State’s most difficult foe. It will also be the Bulldogs’ best opponent to Auburn on Oct. 6. Want proof? Kentucky defeated Florida’s Gators 27-16 two weeks ago. This was their first win over Florida in 31-years. It was not an accident. Florida was physically defeated by the Wildcats, who ran for 303 yards and controlled the line of scrimmage from both ends. Benny Snell (UK’s hard-running tailback), ran for 175 yards. It sounds strange, and it has been 31 years since it was first heard. Kentucky physically beat Florida. Everybody it played this season has been physically whipped by the State. This is expected to be as old-fashioned and raucous as any SEC football game we see. Kentucky loves to play the football. So does State. Both teams are proud of their physical line play and winning at the line. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops stated the same thing Thursday. Stoops stated, “This will be a line-of-scrimmage game for both sides.” It’s important. Both can effectively run the ball. They’ve even run it for 311 (a match). We are in the 280-range. Both can run the ball, so it’s possible for both teams to do so. The defensive front is State’s greatest strength, despite its impressive offensive numbers. State’s defensive front, under Jeffery Simmons, is the best (and most impressive) in Alabama. Kentucky will be challenging that with an experienced offensive team that averages around 310 pounds tackle to tackle. The Wildcats beat Florida, and they won’t change their personalities for State. Similar to the Oct. 21 visit of Kentucky to State, Saturday’s build-up is similar. State entered the game with a record of 4-2. Kentucky was 5-1. State led 10-7. Nick Fitzgerald made it 17-7 with a 40-yard touchdown run on a fourth and one play. The Wildcats were dominated by State in the second half, which was won 45-7. The most striking stat was that Snell ran for just 18 yards. It was both obvious and impressive. With just over a minute remaining in the half, Kentucky seemed to have Fitzgerald stopped at scrimmage on the fourth-and-one play. Fitzgerald did what Fitzgerald does: he escaped and ran for the touchdown. The rest was State. However, Kentucky beat State 38-38 in Lexington two years ago. Snell ran for 128 yards and a touchdown in helping the Wildcats defeat Fitzgerald’s 116-yard rush and two-touchdown performance. This series has seen home field play a significant role. State leads the series 23-22, while Kentucky has a 14-9 lead in Lexington games. No. 14 State is a 10-point favorite against unranked Kentucky. This would surely propel 14 State into the polls with victory. A prediction? The difference between the two teams is their physicality, but team speed. State is just a little faster. Bulldogs, 30-20. Bulldogs, 30-20.