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The 12th-ranked Louisville Cardinals play host to the TCU Horned
Frogs in a mid-week Conference USA matchup from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium this Wednesday. Bobby Petrino's Cardinals have ascended the national polls thanks to two straight wins, including last week's thrilling 56-49 shootout against Memphis. The victory improved Louisville to 6-1 on the year, including a flawless 4-0 mark in Conference USA play. The Horned Frogs are struggling just to keep their heads above water, as they have dropped two of their last three games to fall to .500 both on the year overall (4-4) and in league action (2-2). Last time out it was Cincinnati that got by TCU 21-10, holding the Horned Frogs to their lowest scoring output since 2001. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between these two teams and Louisville is still in
search of its first victory over TCU. Last season, the Horned Frogs edged out the Cardinals 31-28.
With a pair of nicked up quarterbacks, it is unknown which quarterback TCU will go with this week. Both Brandon Hassell and Tye Gunn are nursing injuries, but neither injury is serious. Hassell has been the more effective passer on the year, completing 56.7 percent of his passes, for 1,232 yards and
eight TDs. Gunn hasn't been far off the mark, completing 56 percent of his attempts, for 862 yards and seven scores. Regardless of who is throwing the ball, the top targets remain the same, in wideouts Cory Rodgers (40 catches, for 475 yards and four TDs) and Reggie Harrell (27 catches, for 552 yards and
four TDs). Tailback Lonta Hobbs provides the balance with his hard running. Despite fighting through several injuries this year, Hobbs has been able to churn out 616 yards on the season (5.2 ypc) and has scored 10 of the team's 18 rushing TDs to date. Although the team put up just 10 points last time out, this remains a dangerous offensive unit that can score (32.6 ppg) thanks to a strong rushing attack (160.5 ypg) and above-average passing (273.1 ypg).
A feared defensive unit for many years, TCU has taken a step back in that regard. This season, the team has struggled to shut down opponents, especially in the vertical game, where the Horned Frogs are allowing an alarming 304.2 yards per game. The result has been just over 33 points per game surrendered,
a number that has to start to come down if the team is to close out the year well. It's not as if the team is generating a push upfield. With 21 sacks and 55 TFLs in the first eight games, this is still a unit that can make plays. Leading the charge in that area is senior linebacker Martin Patterson, who has more than twice as many tackles as anyone on the roster, coming into this
contest with 97 total stops. He has also recorded six TFLs and two sacks on the year. Senior strong safety Marvin Godbolt currently leads the team in TFLs (7.5) and sacks (four). With an offensive juggernaut like Louisville on the docket, the Horned Frogs will need to create pressure up front, or the Cardinals will throw all day on this defense.
Tailback Eric Shelton rushed for 136 yards and four TDs, while quarterback Stefan LeFors passed for 321 yards and three more touchdowns, leading the Cardinals to yet another shootout victory, this time at the expense of the Memphis Tigers. UL came in with the nation's top-ranked offense and certainly didn't disappoint, chewing up 599 yards against the Tigers. The team is now averaging 44.0 points per game in 2004, on 519.7 yards of total offense. It is a pick your poison kind of thing with this offense, as Louisville has shown the ability to beat teams on the ground (235.4 ypg) or through the air (284.3 ypg). LeFors has been phenomenal this season, completing over 75 percent of his passes, for 1,485 yards and 10 TDs, with just one interception. Wideout J.R. Russell has seen his number called often downfield this year, leading the way with 44 receptions, for 552 yards and three scores. Shelton is second on the team in carries to this point (74), but way out in front in terms of production, averaging almost seven yards per carry (6.8) and 502 yards on the year. Shelton has scored 13 times this season, while the team as a whole has amassed a whopping 28 rushing TDs in the first seven games. Adding to the backfield depth are tailbacks Michael Bush and Lionel Gates, each of which has scored five TDs thus far.
The 49 points allowed last week by Louisville is certainly not indicative of how well the Cardinals have played defensively this year. The team has posted two shutouts in the first seven games and has held two other opponents under 10 points. The result is a unit that is yielding just 18.1 ppg in 2004, on 326
yards of total offense. The Cardinals have recorded 15 sacks and 17 takeaways in the first seven games, The strength is in the linebacking corps, where senior middle linebacker Robert McCune leads the way. The 6-0, 244-pounder paces the team in tackles (73), with two TFLs, one sack and one interception. Junior LB Brandon Johnson is next in line (51 tackles), posting four TFLs, one sack and two picks. Sophomore linebacker Abe Brown (33 tackles) rounds out the trio with his three sacks. Senior free safety Kerry Rhodes has been a ballhawk this year with a team-high three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Senior end Marcus Jones (22 tackles) leads the way in TFLs (7.5) and sacks (four).
Both these teams know how to move the football up and down the field. TCU had some problems with that last time out, but will probably rebound this week. That being said, this one could be another shootout. Louisville is building up a full head of steam and getting this one at home certainly helps. Behind LeFors and Shelton, the Cardinals should finally get by the Horned Frogs.
My Play:
TCU +24.5
OVER 67
Frogs in a mid-week Conference USA matchup from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium this Wednesday. Bobby Petrino's Cardinals have ascended the national polls thanks to two straight wins, including last week's thrilling 56-49 shootout against Memphis. The victory improved Louisville to 6-1 on the year, including a flawless 4-0 mark in Conference USA play. The Horned Frogs are struggling just to keep their heads above water, as they have dropped two of their last three games to fall to .500 both on the year overall (4-4) and in league action (2-2). Last time out it was Cincinnati that got by TCU 21-10, holding the Horned Frogs to their lowest scoring output since 2001. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between these two teams and Louisville is still in
search of its first victory over TCU. Last season, the Horned Frogs edged out the Cardinals 31-28.
With a pair of nicked up quarterbacks, it is unknown which quarterback TCU will go with this week. Both Brandon Hassell and Tye Gunn are nursing injuries, but neither injury is serious. Hassell has been the more effective passer on the year, completing 56.7 percent of his passes, for 1,232 yards and
eight TDs. Gunn hasn't been far off the mark, completing 56 percent of his attempts, for 862 yards and seven scores. Regardless of who is throwing the ball, the top targets remain the same, in wideouts Cory Rodgers (40 catches, for 475 yards and four TDs) and Reggie Harrell (27 catches, for 552 yards and
four TDs). Tailback Lonta Hobbs provides the balance with his hard running. Despite fighting through several injuries this year, Hobbs has been able to churn out 616 yards on the season (5.2 ypc) and has scored 10 of the team's 18 rushing TDs to date. Although the team put up just 10 points last time out, this remains a dangerous offensive unit that can score (32.6 ppg) thanks to a strong rushing attack (160.5 ypg) and above-average passing (273.1 ypg).
A feared defensive unit for many years, TCU has taken a step back in that regard. This season, the team has struggled to shut down opponents, especially in the vertical game, where the Horned Frogs are allowing an alarming 304.2 yards per game. The result has been just over 33 points per game surrendered,
a number that has to start to come down if the team is to close out the year well. It's not as if the team is generating a push upfield. With 21 sacks and 55 TFLs in the first eight games, this is still a unit that can make plays. Leading the charge in that area is senior linebacker Martin Patterson, who has more than twice as many tackles as anyone on the roster, coming into this
contest with 97 total stops. He has also recorded six TFLs and two sacks on the year. Senior strong safety Marvin Godbolt currently leads the team in TFLs (7.5) and sacks (four). With an offensive juggernaut like Louisville on the docket, the Horned Frogs will need to create pressure up front, or the Cardinals will throw all day on this defense.
Tailback Eric Shelton rushed for 136 yards and four TDs, while quarterback Stefan LeFors passed for 321 yards and three more touchdowns, leading the Cardinals to yet another shootout victory, this time at the expense of the Memphis Tigers. UL came in with the nation's top-ranked offense and certainly didn't disappoint, chewing up 599 yards against the Tigers. The team is now averaging 44.0 points per game in 2004, on 519.7 yards of total offense. It is a pick your poison kind of thing with this offense, as Louisville has shown the ability to beat teams on the ground (235.4 ypg) or through the air (284.3 ypg). LeFors has been phenomenal this season, completing over 75 percent of his passes, for 1,485 yards and 10 TDs, with just one interception. Wideout J.R. Russell has seen his number called often downfield this year, leading the way with 44 receptions, for 552 yards and three scores. Shelton is second on the team in carries to this point (74), but way out in front in terms of production, averaging almost seven yards per carry (6.8) and 502 yards on the year. Shelton has scored 13 times this season, while the team as a whole has amassed a whopping 28 rushing TDs in the first seven games. Adding to the backfield depth are tailbacks Michael Bush and Lionel Gates, each of which has scored five TDs thus far.
The 49 points allowed last week by Louisville is certainly not indicative of how well the Cardinals have played defensively this year. The team has posted two shutouts in the first seven games and has held two other opponents under 10 points. The result is a unit that is yielding just 18.1 ppg in 2004, on 326
yards of total offense. The Cardinals have recorded 15 sacks and 17 takeaways in the first seven games, The strength is in the linebacking corps, where senior middle linebacker Robert McCune leads the way. The 6-0, 244-pounder paces the team in tackles (73), with two TFLs, one sack and one interception. Junior LB Brandon Johnson is next in line (51 tackles), posting four TFLs, one sack and two picks. Sophomore linebacker Abe Brown (33 tackles) rounds out the trio with his three sacks. Senior free safety Kerry Rhodes has been a ballhawk this year with a team-high three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Senior end Marcus Jones (22 tackles) leads the way in TFLs (7.5) and sacks (four).
Both these teams know how to move the football up and down the field. TCU had some problems with that last time out, but will probably rebound this week. That being said, this one could be another shootout. Louisville is building up a full head of steam and getting this one at home certainly helps. Behind LeFors and Shelton, the Cardinals should finally get by the Horned Frogs.
My Play:
TCU +24.5
OVER 67