The Edge: UK vs. Bye Week

Randall Cobb vs. NFL dreams

Cobb wants to eventually play football on Sundays, but after he announced that he may evaluate his options after this year, his junior year, the fans of Big Blue Nation may be feeling a little bit conflicted right now.

After all, the most recent performance lodged in Cobb’s memory is his 279-all-purpose-yard game against Vanderbilt, what could have been Cobb’s last in Commonwealth Stadium.

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However, Cobb has repeatedly expressed his love for UK, and he could benefit from another year of development as a receiver and could catch former Florida Gator Tim Tebow’s Southeastern Conference career for touchdowns (57; Cobb currently sits at 37). All points for Cobb to mull.

Edge: Cobb stays

Derrick Locke vs. injury concerns

Locke enjoyed a warm welcome back to the starting lineup versus Vanderbilt after missing four games because of a shoulder stinger. The senior tailback finished with 22 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Of those 145 yards, 83 came courtesy of one play, so Locke’s statistics are a little misleading. Inflated statistics aside, UK head coach Joker Phillips noted postgame that he wasn’t seeing the typical Locke.

Said Phillips: “When he came on our side, I just made mention to our offensive guys that he doesn’t look the same. He didn’t look like the same Derrick. Even on the long run, Derrick Locke, I mean, he steps away from those guys, and he didn’t step away from them like he had been earlier in the season.”

Considering Locke’s status was in question mere days before the Vanderbilt game, the extra rest should do him wonders.

Edge: Locke

UK vs. rising pressure

Although there’s no game this Saturday, the final regular season game for the Cats is a biggie given the Tennessee Volunteers’ dominance over UK in the past quarter of a century. Despite the Vols’ 4-6 record, any team that holds a 25-game winning streak over another can’t be underestimated.

The Cats are likely headed to a middle-of-the-line bowl again, so breaking a streak against a hated rival would be one of the highlights from this year.

Edge: UK

Ricky Lumpkin vs. teammates

The fifth-year senior defensive tackle went on an expletive-laden rant against his teammates in the locker room during halftime of the Cats’ 38-20 win over Vanderbilt. The Cats trailed 13-10 after two quarters.

To say the speech was a little out of the ordinary would be an understatement given the affable Lumpkin’s typical demeanor. It may be a bye week, but Lumpkin’s teammates may not want to chance slacking off too much, otherwise they might see his angry side again.

Edge: teammates do their job

Danny Trevathan vs. phantom runner

Trevathan, who has recorded 10-plus tackles in seven consecutive games, will not be able to get to the double-digit tackle mark this weekend because he will not have the opportunity to chase any opponent down. So far, only the phantom running back can elude Trevathan.

Edge: phantom runner (but only by a hair)

Final Edge: maximum edge in favor of UK