Write-Up #1
Missouri at Kentucky (-2.5)...8 unit Pick of the Month
Power ratings: Missouri (47th) at Kentucky (35th) = projected spread of -6
Loooovvvveeeeee Kentucky here for several reasons. Unfortunately, I didn't
fade Missouri LW because UCONN's offense scared me, but let's get to the analysis:
1. Kentucky is in a great spot after losing SU and not covering LW for Missouri. Kentucky is a young team (like Missouri) so we don't have to worry about them getting big-headed if they had beaten Florida. Just prefer betting teams off a loss or non-cover and this is a good spot. So why can't we say the same for Missouri? We can - but they have been mediocre all year with mediocre results. Failed to cover vs. SE Missouri State. Beat Ark State by 7. Beat UCONN by 3. They haven't gotten better or showe class. Which brings us to our next point...
2. Kentucky has more talent at nearly every position on the field. Has Kentucky showed inconsistency offensively? Yes they have - but when they are on they are as explosive as any team in the country. Kentucky is not facing Florida's elite DL + DBs this week. It's a very inexperienced DL and average DBs. Kentucky has explosive, talented WRs and RBs that can make teams pay for mistakes. They couldn't exploit this vs. Florida but Missouri is not Florida. Positional analysis says Kentucky is better at QB, RB (Hansbrough is still questionable btw), WR, OL, DL, and DB. Too much class.
3. Missouri's cupcake schedule hasn't prepared them for a road SEC game against a quality opponent. Playing SE Missouri State, Arkansas State, and UCONN does not make you a better football team - it just gives the other team's coaching staff material. You don't learn anything about your team except negatives. Missouri hasn't faced the size or speed they will see against Kentucky. Playing against Arkansas State on the road isn't the same as playing Kentucky on the road. Not that A+B always = C, but Missouri managed 9 points against UCONN. Army scored 17, Villanova scored 15. Says a lot about Missouri's level of talent - they aren't an AP Top 25 team. More like AP Top 50-75 team.
4. Kentucky has an inconsistent offense, but their defense has proven to get stops. Kentucky has a great red zone defense. Managed to hold South Carolina to 3 field goals. Took Florida to 4th and goal before their QB barely made it to the pylon for a score. They have talent on the defensive side. Missouri's offense just isn't there and they were exposed to the world against UCONN. I've been harping on about how overrated Maty Mauk is (look up his mediocre game logs vs. SEC last year). This season he is a 53% passer for 5.9 ypa, 5 TDs, and 4 INTs...against Villanova + Army + UCONN. What will he do in the SEC this year?
5. Kentucky's defense held Missouri to 320 yards, 4.7 ypa, and 3.5 yards/clip last year on the road. With better play from DL + DB this season for Kentucky I expect more turnovers and simlar defensive production with better 3rd down defense (10/20 LY).
6. Kentucky's offense did struggle against Missouri last year, but Missouri lost their elite DL (top 5 DL gone from LY) including a 1st and 2nd round picks at DE. On the other hand, Kentucky is getting better production from the WR and RB positions this season. Edge Kentucky. Missouri's DL was the heart and soul of their team, not ESPN's Maty Mauk.
7. Kentucky's edge in special teams. Austin MacGinnis is rated as one of the best soph kickers in the country by NFLDraftScout.com. However, senior Andrew Baggett for Missour is spotty at best. Career 80% kicker from 30-39 and career 62% kicker from 40-49. On the other hand, MacGinnis is 90% from 30-39, 70% from 40-49, and 60% (3/5) from 50+ with a career long of 54. Huge edge Kentucky. So if Kentucky can get keep stops and keep Missouri's kicker in the 35-49 FG yardage area, they have a great chance of limiting Missouri to zero points.
8. So why is Missouri struggling so much you ask? I killed them in my ATS fade teams before the season (they are 0-3 ATS this season). They lost their entire WR corps. They lost RB Murphy. They lost LT Mitch Morse (2nd rd pick). They lost their entire DL that I already mentioned. You can't lose that much and be the same team. And Mauk didn't light up scoreboards last year as it was - so when he loses all of his WRs and his top OL he isn't going to be as good.
Kentucky in a blowout. UK 34 Missouri 10. 8 unit pick of the week. -3 is still a good spread to pound but you only push if Kentucky wins by 3. Still, I think you are safe to unlead. I'd take Kentucky up to -6 before slowing down according to power ratings...and I probably am overrating Missouri in my powers as it is.