Western Kentucky vs. Eastern Kentucky — Bluegrass Bowl Preview
The summer was dark and full of terrors and winter is com…oh wait, this isn’t the right forum for that.
ANYWAY, welcome to game week as we are finally within reaching distance of actual, meaningful* football.
However, unfortunately for WKU fans, it’ll be meaningful for all of 15 minutes before the game turns into an utter blowout.
Here’s the thing; while, yes, the Tops are breaking in a new head coach this year, they’ve opened with competent FBS competition during the Brohm era (and even further, with the Kentucky win in Nashville in Petrino’s only year) and have, more or less, handled the competition:
- Opened 2014 with a 59–31 win over Bowling Green
- Opened 20115 with a 14–12 win over Vandy
- Opened last year with a 46–14 win over Rice
Even with the two-point win against Vanderbilt, WKU is averaging winning margin of 20.6 points per season opening win since Brohm’s debut. That’s the very definition of the word “domination.”
Fortunately for the Tops, and unfortunately for the Colonels, each of the teams the Tops have opened with over that time has been a more competitive team than EKU. The Colonels are coming off a 3–8 overall record and a 2–6 mark in the OVC, finishing in second to last place above lowly Austin Peay, who didn’t win a game in 11 tries.
In 2016, the Colonels were outscored by an average of 30.5–26.1 points per game, and allowed just more than 205 passing yards per game.
Of course, both of those averages from a year ago play right into WKU’s hand — with a returning Mike White and a receiving corps that will be looking to establish who the true playmaker is.
The Tops aren’t the only side coming into Saturday with a hint of uncertainty at a skill position — although, for the Colonels, it comes at the QB spot. It appears UConn transfer Tim Boyle will be the starter for EKU, at least to begin the game and the year, but after sitting out all of 2016, will he be in-step enough to consistently beat WKU’s linebackers and secondary?
While not as big, there are still some questions that linger on the Tops’ side of the ball; as mentioned, who is the leader of the Tops wide receivers? Lucky Jackson? Nacarius Fant? Marcus Floyd?
Also, what will the offense look like under Mike Sanford? Last year, while the QB changed over and it’s fair to have said “how will White handle Brohm’s offense,” he still had experience with it in the film room, in practice and even in garbage time with all the Tops’ blowouts. Now, I don’t think Sanford will change things too much, but it’s still fun to speculate at what differences will arrise.
I’m going to level with you — first-game of the year previews are difficult. We have no stats to compare. We, as of publication, don’t even have an opening line.
Oh well. The season is finally here and we are in for a fun week, both here at The Towel Rack and just as Hilltopper and football fans.
What are you looking forward to on Saturday? Do you think the Colonels will keep it close and give the Tops a scare? Let us know in a comment below, via Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebook page.
