Kentucky Can Actually Try to Start a Few Streaks Now. Technically // SEC 2012: The New SEC

We've already been over Kentucky's list of losing streaks before on this site -- most recently earlier this week -- so there's no need to rehash it in much detail. Suffice it to say that Florida remains the only team of the major streaks in recent years -- Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee -- that the Wildcats haven't been able to break. So it's time to find some new material.

Or maybe not, entirely. Because Florida is one of many games where Kentucky is probably going to have to be content just to gain ground rather than turn a loss into a win. Meanwhile, Louisville is looking stronger than ever, there's no game against Ole Miss on this year's schedule, and Kentucky would have to win in Knoxville this year if it wants to start a winning streak against Tennessee.

But there is going to be pressure on Kentucky to win this year. Some fans are already beginning to grumble about Joker Phillips' inability to replicate the success Rich Brooks had in Lexington, even if they're not quite ready yet to show their new head coach the door. Even if a subpar 2012 isn't enough to get Phillips fired, it will almost certainly be enough to increase his seat's temperature to the point where it's suitable for cooking eggs.

The best chance for Kentucky to steal a shocker this year is a bit of a back-to-the-future matchup: The game against South Carolina. The 2010 victory against the Gamecocks, who would go on to win the SEC East, is perhaps the signature win of the Joker Phillips Era. The trip to Lexington for South Carolina is sandwiched in between home games against Missouri and Georgia, two matchups could very well determine whether the Gamecocks are in the hunt for the division.

If Kentucky can spring one upset, then things open up a bit to get the Wildcats back in a bowl -- particularly if they've already knocked of Louisville and are 4-1. A team that's good enough to upset South Carolina is probably good for a win against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and/or Tennessee. Without a disaster against Samford, Kentucky needs just one of those games to get to the postseason. But that's a long shot.

Place: 7th in the SEC East
Record: 3-9, 0-8 SEC
Could be: 3-9 to 7-5
Best chance for an upset: SOUTH CAROLINA
Bowl: None

9.2.12 | at LOUISVILLE | POSSIBLE LOSS
9.8.12 | KENT STATE | WIN
9.15.12 | WESTERN KENTUCKY | LIKELY WIN
9.22.12 | at FLORIDA | LIKELY LOSS
9.29.12 | SOUTH CAROLINA | LIKELY LOSS
10.6.12 | MISSISSIPPI STATE | POSSIBLE LOSS
10.13.2 | at ARKANSAS | PROBABLE LOSS
10.23.12 | GEORGIA | PROBABLE LOSS
10.27.12 | at MISSOURI | POSSIBLE LOSS
11.3.12 | VANDERBILT | POSSIBLE LOSS
11.17.12 | SAMFORD | WIN
11.24.12 | at TENNESSEE | POSSIBLE LOSS

Key (from least likely to win to most): Loss, Likely Loss, Probably Loss, Possible Loss, Possible Win, Probable Win, Likely Win, Win