@CoachRyanKY
LEXINGTON - It’s almost football time in the Bluegrass! This Saturday, the University of Kentucky Wildcats will welcome the Southern Miss Golden Eagles to Kroger Field to kick off their 2024 season. Much has been written and speculated about by pundits and analysts regarding what the Wildcats might bring to the table this year: predictions of their record, analyses of a debutante quarterback, concerns about injuries at running back, and a head coach who has garnered attention for his controversial remarks in the media. However, not much has been said about Kentucky’s first opponent of the season.
Enter me.
Southern Miss will travel from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to Lexington, Kentucky, for this Week One matchup. Led by Head Coach Will Hall, the Golden Eagles, members of the Sun Belt Conference, struggled last season after achieving bowl eligibility in 2022. Hall enters this season with a 13-24 overall record, and it’s a contract year for him. Although no one asked me, it seems clear that replicating the success of 2022 is crucial if Hall wants to secure his future with the Golden Eagles.
The Southern Miss team returns 12 starters this season—four on offense, six on defense, plus their kicker and punter. The strength of this team lies in the “trenches,” with solid line play on both sides of the ball. Coach Hall understands the physicality required to compete at a high level in the Sun Belt, and his squad will emphasize toughness, grit, and aggressiveness. However, there are notable weaknesses, particularly in the wide receiver room. No receiver on Southern Miss’s roster has produced significantly at the Division I FBS level, so expect Kentucky’s secondary to have a strong showing.
One player to watch for the Golden Eagles is linebacker Desmond Baker. After transferring, Baker joins the team from Western Kentucky, where he made a name for himself last season by wreaking havoc on the field. Over his college career, he has racked up 90 tackles in 48 games—a solid record and a valuable addition for Hall. Another notable transfer is starting quarterback Tate Rodemaker, who led Florida State to a victory over the Florida Gators last season after their starter, Jordan Travis, was injured.
Currently, Kentucky is a 28-point favorite at most sportsbooks. The Wildcats have been known for slow starts in previous years, but I believe this year will be different. I’m predicting a resounding win for Kentucky, covering the spread and finishing on top, 49-17.
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