BIG EAST FOOTBALL PREVIEW: GAME #3 LOUISVILLE

September 16, 2008


It is a Big East buffet this week with all nine teams in action and it starts on Wednesday nigt with the Louisville Cardinals hosting the Wildcats of Kansas State at Papa John Stadium.

This is an important early season for both teams as both are looking to try to get back into the NCAA Bowl Games picture after both missed out on the post-season in 2007.

Kansas State enters into the contest at 2-0 with an average margin of victory of 57-8 in their first two games. Of course, the competition of North Texas (0-3, outscored 142-35) and Montana State (1-2 with a win over Adams St) means they have yet to be tested.

Louisville opened their season with a test...and failed, losing at home to rival Kentucky by the score of 27-2. The Cards bounced back and put a licking on Tennessee Tech 51-10 eleven days ago to even their record at 1-1.

It is hard to put much stock into their numbers from the first two games, but Kansas State QB Josh Freeman has been off the charts, completing 76% of his passes at 11.6 yards an attempt with five TD's (and no picks) in his 45 passing attempts. However, this will be his first test without last year's security blankets in RB James Johnson (1,106 yards in 2007) and WR Jordy Nelson (122 catches and over 1,600 yards in '07).

The Louisville defense has been stellar this season, allowing just 63 yards rushing, 210 overall, in their loss against UK. The numbers were even better in game #2 as they allowed just 33 yards rushing to Tennessee Tech and 176 yards overall.

The College Football Betting odds show Kansas State as a 4-point favorite in their first road game of the season in this match-up. Coming off a 5-7 season, the Wildcats are chomping at the bit to prove they are ready to compete again this season. Winning on the road at Louisville will be a step forward. The difference in the game will be the experience at the quarterback position and look for Freeman to come through in the clutch in a tough win for KSU.

Prediction:

Kansas State 31
Louisville 24