CFB - Louisville at Kentucky (7:30E - ESPN Classic)

Concern about Louisville’s defense heading into Saturday’s showdown at Kentucky is not unfounded


2007-09-14

Concern about Louisville’s defense heading into Saturday’s showdown at Kentucky is not unfounded. The unit was torched Thursday by Middle Tennessee State to the tune of 564 yards and 42 points.

With the dangerous QB Andre Woodson lurking for the Wildcats, the challenge is on for the Cardinals as this is Kentucky’s best shot at ending a four-game losing skid in the series. Overall, Louisville owns a 7-1 SU & 6-2 ATS edge head-to-head. Between Louisville’s Brian Brohm and Woodson, two of the nation’s best quarterbacks guiding offense averaging 65.5 & 53 PPG respectively, this game has the makings of an unprecedented shootout.

Kentucky would love to ruin the plans of in-state rival Louisville on the Commonwealth Stadium turf. This is the Wildcats best team under Rick Brooks who saved his job last year with 8-5 campaign and first bowl win since 1984. At the helm is dynamic quarterback Andre Woodson who will be up for the SEC’s top QB. Woodson can make all the throws with strong arm and is elusive. All five linemen are upperclassmen and are protecting Woodson as needed.

Louisville sipped the BSC nectar and is going back for more with senior Brian Brohm returning. To date new coach Steve Kragthorpe’s offense has not missed a beat for the Cardinals, running up usual large numbers at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The roles of these teams have been switched as this was among the biggest games on the Louisville schedule in the past. Now it’s just another non-conference game with bigger fish to fry in the Big East.

This conflict holds far great significance to Kentucky who has been outscored by 17 points a game since the renewal of this contest in the Commonwealth. Even thou passing is a key element for both teams, the team with the most rushing yards has won each of the last eight outings. StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: Louisville by 15

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