By Paul Sykes
Perhaps the toughest game of the year for the University of Louisville football team. Home opener for Oregon State, still smarting from an opening game loss to TCU. Sell out at Reser Stadium, 45,000 screaming homers, and rain in the forecast. Good thing the opponent isn’t the Oregon Ducks.
Five things Louisville must do to pull an upset:
- Strike early. No waiting around for the second quarter to put numbers on the scoreboard. The running game needs to be clicking and Adam Froman needs to find receivers. Translation = the offensive line needs to be “on” today.
- Shut down Rodgers and Rodgers. By air or ground, they’re dangerous and productive. The Cards don’t want to get into a track meet with these two.
- Eliminate the “self destruct” penalties. The Cards did a good job avoiding the flags against UK..but lapsed back into old habits versus Eastern Kentucky. Late hits and jumping the count a big “no-no” today.
- Mix it up on offense. Gotta keep the OSU defending 11 guessing. No predictability. Wouldn’t mind seeing both Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson in there together and a few over the middle tosses to the 6-foot-9 Chichester.
- Finish. A return to the second half against UK would be the ticket. I hope they burned the second half video of the Eastern Kentucky game. No panic state if trailing and defensive stops on the third and longs.
I see it closer than most do. I think weather could play a factor too and see the Cards putting up a respectable effort against a top 25 team.  OSU, 27-21.
As I predicted, a much closer game than the “experts” saw it. Figure in the early blown scoring chances and Louisville wins this thing by at least three. Darn proud of these guys and can’t wait for Arkansas State.
Halftime comment: Play calling has been terrible ….U of L passed up 14+ points and is now getting BLOWN OUT. Once again, VERY disappointing.
Until Strong shows it, I’m still going with Petrino as THE MAN!!
C’mon Cards…play like you want it!!