Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Wildcats at Wildcat Blue Nation for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find his work here and you can find his tweets here. This is his first time on the Blogle. It’s good.
1. What is a Kentucky fan’s first thought of Auburn football at this exact moment?
It is kind of like looking in a mirror. Kentucky’s defense is usually good, their offense is a crap show. They think Auburn is elite defensively but see some holes that can be taken advantage of on offense. I mean 7 total TD’s from Jackson Arnold all year long, Cutter had 5 in the last game.
2. Are Kentucky fans done with Stoops or they just don’t care at this point?
Kentucky fans are completely out on Mark Stoops, and rightfully so. The numbers are horrible when you look at it. Kentucky is just 1-14 in the last 15 SEC games, 10 straight SEC home games, and he keeps saying dumb stuff like he needs ‘2,3’ years. Its like he doesn’t watch college football and see Indiana not even need a year. There is a significant portion of the fanbase who would love to see an Auburn blowout Saturday IF it meant getting rid of Stoops, but I am not sure even that gets it done. It didn’t last Saturday at home.
3. Who are your two favorite Auburn Tigers of all time and why?
The first one is probably going to be no surprise to anyone. Bo Jackson. There was just something different about him that made him must see. That 85 season is still one of the best of all time. I might break from some on this next guy, Darius Slayton. While he did some awesome things on the SEC field, the stuff he has done off the field has been awesome. His right hand left hand foundation named after Matthew 6:3 is doing amazing work, he was the Giants nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award and won the Alan Page community service award. it is so awesome to see guys giving back in meaningful ways.
4. Name two Wildcats that Auburn fans should look out for and why?
Seth McGowan is going to be a game-time decision again after not playing last week or he would be number 1. Auburn’s defense giving up 7 yards per pass means Kentucky can hit some big plays. Look out for DJ Miller a freshman who has really come on lately with 5 catches 120 yards and 2 TDs last week, at 6’3 he is a deep ball specialist.
On defense Ty Bryant is a ball hawking safety who does a good job at making tackles around the line of scrimmage. He is someone key to Kentucky’s defense and if he plays well the defense usually plays well.
5. Which two Tigers scare you the most and why?
Jeremiah Cobb for sure. The man can hit a hole like few other running backs and Kentucky’s run defense has been spotty at best.
Kentucky believes in it’s special teams which are usually pretty good, but Ryan Niblett broke 2 game changing punts against Kentucky in an OT win for Texas, so Rayshawn Pleasant is someone who could change the game. I don’t expect either offense to really light it up, which means field position will be huge. Kentucky is going to try and drain as much clock a possible, and all it takes is one big return to flip the game on its head. He is also pretty good at DB too.
6. Where will each team have an advantage over the other?
Kentucky has the better QB, I don’t think anyone would argue that even the most ardent Auburn defenders. The offensive line is kind of a push, both are better run blocking units. The defensive is where Auburn will have the biggest advantage. Kentucky is playing an injured secondary that is prone to getting beat deep.
7. Which matchup will decide the game?
Whether it be Ashton Daniels or Jackson Arnold there will be holes there. Arch Manning was unable to take advantage of it like Joey Aguilar did. So that will be the key matchup for me from the Auburn perspective.
For the Cats, it will be the offensive line’s ability to run block versus Auburn’s stout rush defense. Kentucky is going to run the ball, Mark Stoops knows no other way. But if it is unsuccessful, it will hinder their ability to really control the ball like he wants. If Kentucky can get run yardage against Auburn, they will win this game.
8. What is your analysis/score prediction for the game?
A really interesting question here, because quiet frankly I think both sides would take a loss if it meant their head coach would be fired after the game. I may be misreading the Auburn tea leaves a bit there, but that’s what I gather from the fans I have interacted with. I think Auburn’s defense is the ultimate weapon against a Kentucky team who wants to run the ball and control the clock. The fact that Stoops will not alter his game plan from that means Auburn goes in with an advantage.
Kentucky’s defense has held only 1 SEC opponent under 30 points, Texas (16). They haven’t won in Jordan Hare since 2009, and have lost four straight to Auburn. I think it’s a close game because of the ineffective offense’s. If Ashton Daniels sparks Auburn it could turn into a blowout. I think it will be 24-14 Auburn in a game with a lot of punts.
9. Where will Auburn and Kentucky end up this season?
Hopefully for both fanbases with new coaches. In terms of record, Kentucky has looked pretty terrible most of the season. With wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan they have not shown the ability to win a game, even when Texas tried all they could to give it to them. That to me shows a team who doesn’t know how to win. I think they will finish 4-8 again after knocking off a coachless Gators team next week and a better than you think Tennessee Tech team.
As for Auburn, I don’t think they will do much better than .500. The offense has just been so bad at times that it really reminds me of Kentucky’s and that is not a good thing. I think they go bowling, but I don’t think Hugh Freeze returns.
10. Lastly, what are your thoughts on Hugh Freeze?
Speaking of Freeze, I think the scandal at Ole Miss would’ve honestly been the end of his major coaching career. I did not think he would get another job in the SEC after that. But he did, and it’s not been good enough at Auburn. I don’t think he is a bad coach, but I just don’t know if he is the right fit for a school who should be better than they are. You look at his record, you see the 4-4 this year, despite what Mark Stoops says, you don’t need 3 or 4 years anymore. And if you do, you aren’t doing that good of a job.
I think he is closer to turning the program around than Harsin ever was, but I am not sure Tigers fans will take much solace in that. If I were the AD, unless Auburn wins out and does so pretty convincingly, I don’t think I wait on a reset. There is too much talent, too much money, and too much prestige for Auburn to be under .500.
