Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater will look to rack up some yards against Missouri State on Saturday. (Getty Images) |
Missouri State (0-1) at No. 23 Louisville (1-0)
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
Spread: No line
Watchability: Not great. This should be a walk for the Cardinals.
Shining stars: Louisville: QB Teddy Bridgewater. In due time, the entire nation will be talking about the Louisville quarterback. Bridgewater was super efficient in the Cardinals' opener against Kentucky, going 19 of 21 for 232 yards in just over 2 1/2 quarters of play. The Missouri State defense is just as soft as Kentucky's, so Bridgewater figures to have another solid day. Missouri State: QB Ashton Glaser. A Missouri transfer, Glaser has an opportunity to start for the Bears -- an opportunity he did not have with his former team. Against Kansas State last Saturday Glaser threw for 257 yards, albeit in a 51-9 blowout loss.
Who could steal the show: Louisville: RB Jeremy Wright. After seemingly wresting the starting job from Senorise Perry with a three-touchdown performance in the opener, Wright will again figure prominently in the Louisville rushing attack, especially with another back, Dominique Brown, questionable with an injured knee. Missouri State: WR Dorian Buford. He was Glaser's favorite target Saturday, catching seven passes for 114 yards. P Chris Sullens. In six punts against Kansas State, Sullens averaged better than 47 yards per kick, including a 67-yarder. This guy is no joke, and he will likely get several chances to show off his leg Saturday.
You going? Ranking the road trip: Nothing wrong with watching a Saturday afternoon football game in September, but this one isn't worth spending a lot of money to attend.
Magic number for Louisville: 219. The number of yards the Cardinals had on the ground Sunday against Kentucky. If Louisville really wants to be a national power, it will need continued balance in its passing and rushing attacks.
Magic number for Missouri State: 1. The number ofwins the Bears have against FBS teams in 28 tries. But it's not out of the question. Last season, Louisville lost to Florida International, a team that had never won an FBS game prior to beating the Cardinals.
The game comes down to: Focus. If Louisville doesn't play poorly or look past the Bears, it will be an easy win heading into a rematch with North Carolina. The Cards lost to the Tar Heels last season in Chapel Hill.
Prediction: Louisville 38, Missouri State 3
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