4 posts tagged “ranked team”
Wildcats -7 1/2 vs. Razorbacks
Two sputtering SEC rivals meet in Lexington, Kentucky Saturday evening when the Kentucky Wildcats play host to the Arkansas Razorbacks, although, if their last game is any indication, the Razorbacks appear ready to break out.
In their last game, first-year coach Bobby Petrino led Arkansas (3-3, 1-2) on the road and saw them upset the then number 20 ranked team, Auburn, 25-22. The hero on this day was Razorback running back Michael Smith who rushed for 176 yards on 35 carries and galloped 67-yards for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. Smith’s heroics helped Arkansas snap a nasty three game losing streak which saw Arkansas’ opponents outscore them 139-31. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, they were unable to capitalize on the momentum of the Auburn victory as they had a week off last week before taking another road trip to Kentucky.
Kentucky’s once promising season has made a distinct you turn in the last couple of weeks. Two weeks ago, the Wildcats (4-2, 0-2) played the second ranked Alabama Crimson Tide better than anyone else this season on October 4 in Tuscaloosa, but ultimately lost 17-14. In that game, Kentucky’s inability to contain the run was what doomed them as Glen Coffee ran for 218 yards and a touchdown. Last week, the Wildcats were victimized by either overconfidence or a letdown and lost to a rising South Carolina team 24-17 in Lexington.
Both offenses are struggling currently, but there is just something about this matchup that lights up the scoreboard. Over the past five matchups dating back to 1998, Arkansas and Kentucky have combined to score an average of 69.8 points, including a 71-63 Razorback triumph in 2003, which was also the last game played in Lexington in the series. Kentucky beat Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Sooners -20 vs. Jayhawks
With last week's fabulous Red River Shootout now in the history books with Oklahoma on the short end of the stick, the team looks to regroup this Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma. While their hopes of a perfect season were dashed at the hands of rival Texas 45-35, the Sooners (5-1, 1-1) still seem to hold their own destiny as they set their sites on a Big 12 Championship and the possibility of still achieving a spot in the BCS Championship game in January. After all two years ago, Texas nipped Oklahoma but the Sooners rebounded to claim the Big 12 crown and last season saw a two-loss LSU team clinch the national championship.
Pollsters took into account Oklahoma's loss to a top five team and only dropped the Sooners to number four. The Sooners will welcome another ranked team, number 16 Kansas for a second straight tough test, this time on the friendly grounds of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
There was no bigger surprise in 2007 than Kansas and they are continuing their success in 2009. The Jayhawks (5-1, 2-0) only blemish was a close loss to number 19 South Florida on September 12. Stalled in the middle of the top-25, a victory on the road in Norman will go along way to placing Kansas back into national title contention. This will be no easy feat though. In addition to coming off a tough loss to an arch-rival, Oklahoma has won 21 straight games at Memorial Stadium.
Kansas should be in for an aerial offensive attack by the nation's fourth ranking scoring offense. The Sooners average an astounding 523 yards per game and 47 points per game. Last week Sam Bradford threw for 387 yards with five touchdowns on two interceptions. The onus was clearly on Bradford last week as Oklahoma's ground game sputtered to 48 yards on 23 attempts.
Kansas knows they must make hay on offense since the Sooner defense struggled so mightily last Saturday, giving up 438 yards. The Sooners will also be missing middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds who is gone for the season with a right knee ligament tear.
This is the teams' first meeting since 2005 when Oklahoma bested the Jayhawks 19-3 for their fourth straight win in the series. Kansas last beat Oklahoma in 1997.
Broncos -23 1/2 vs. Warriors
On the eve of the first BCS rankings of the season, the Boise State Broncos want to be heard. They do have to get past Hawaii Saturday night before basking in the glow of being a potential BCS-buster. Memories are fresh in Bronco player and fans minds of Hawaii hurdling Boise State on the way to their BCS bowl last season. Poor defense ultimately sealed the Broncos' fate last season, but in 2008 it has been the secret to their success.
Boise State (5-0, 1-0) ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense and have allowed a paltry 11 points per game. This is heads and tails better then the output in the loss to Hawaii last season, in which the Broncos surrendered 39 points to a Colt Brennan-led Warrior team. Case in point, last week's victory over Southern Mississippi. Boise State held their opponents to seven points, which was quite a feat as Southern Mississippi was considered the 17th best offense in the nation.
Hawaii is a team in transition. Most of the time this season, the team has seemed inconsistent and searching for their identity after losing Brennan to the NFL and iconic coach June Jones to SMU at the end of last season. The Warriors have had some big wins this season, however. They beat a Fresno State team, who was ranked at the time, on their home turf. This marked the first time ever that Hawaii has beaten a ranked team on the road. Another upset on the road of a good team, especially an undefeated rival, will go along way for the latest incarnation of the Hawaii Warriors to find themselves.
For Hawaii to win in Boise State, they much buck the trend of the all-time series. Hawaii has only won three of the teams' nine meetings. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. Saturday night in Boise.
Broncos -23 1/2 vs. Warriors
On the eve of the first BCS rankings of the season, the Boise State Broncos want to be heard. They do have to get past Hawaii Saturday night before basking in the glow of being a potential BCS-buster. Memories are fresh in Bronco player and fans minds of Hawaii hurdling Boise State on the way to their BCS bowl last season. Poor defense ultimately sealed the Broncos' fate last season, but in 2008 it has been the secret to their success.
Boise State (5-0, 1-0) ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense and have allowed a paltry 11 points per game. This is heads and tails better then the output in the loss to Hawaii last season, in which the Broncos surrendered 39 points to a Colt Brennan-led Warrior team. Case in point, last week's victory over Southern Mississippi. Boise State held their opponents to seven points, which was quite a feat as Southern Mississippi was considered the 17th best offense in the nation.
Hawaii is a team in transition. Most of the time this season, the team has seemed inconsistent and searching for their identity after losing Brennan to the NFL and iconic coach June Jones to SMU at the end of last season. The Warriors have had some big wins this season, however. They beat a Fresno State team, who was ranked at the time, on their home turf. This marked the first time ever that Hawaii has beaten a ranked team on the road. Another upset on the road of a good team, especially an undefeated rival, will go along way for the latest incarnation of the Hawaii Warriors to find themselves.
For Hawaii to win in Boise State, they much buck the trend of the all-time series. Hawaii has only won three of the teams' nine meetings. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. Saturday night in Boise.
