Line: Louisville (-3)
Bobby Petrino returns home to open up the season at the pizza joint tonight. Kinda shows you how big a scumbag program the cards are willing to stoop. In any event, things will not be easy, their big play guy Devante Parker is out for this one, replacing Theodore Bridgewater, and rebuilding a new defense are in store.
QB Gardner gets the nod for the cards, who does have some experience, but this will be his first start. Michael Dyer is not 100%, and may not play here (Little Rock Christian), which will further severe the available arsenol. The cards thrashed the canes just last season, but the cast of characters has changed dramatically. Cards defense is in disarray and have lost considerable talent, esp on the defensive line. Secondary is hodge podge, but promising until tested.
While Miami is likely to remember the fresh beating they took LY, they look to be a little more competitive coming into this one. They do start QB Kaaya for his first debut, but the kid did beat out transfer senior Jake Heaps (byu) for the job. He has a strong pedigree and physical presence. RB Duke Johnson is a studly runner who should make a big difference in this matchup. He sat out LY with broken ankle suffered against flo st, but is expected to be 100% for this one. Miami reports a good offense line with extreme tight end compentency. The canes defense should be well hearsed to stop the cards running attack, and if they can prevent the bobby p signature big plays, should be able to keep things in check.
This one is lining up to be tighter than *richard's hat band, and I expect points will be a premium in this monday night marquee matchup. Miami really stacks up well in the backfield, and new QB has the physical stature to enhance the effort. Great tight end play very well could open the ends, and one-on-one with outside corners will result in a big rushing edge. The cards are limited in their approach with loss of parker, and possibly no Dyer as well. They will need to rely on big plays with occasional help from the stripes. However, despite maimi being more bullish in this spot and capable of overpowering the young cards; one must factor in the home turf advantage in this one; as the pizza joint is a rolicking party with high expectations. I don't think it will be enough, but this one could come down to a last second field goal, and miami will be there at the end when this one goes final.
Synopsis: Miami will excercise their will with a strong running game against a young cardinal defense front by end containment with exceptional tight end blocking, and do enough to stop the early injured cardinals from getting the season opener.
Prediction: Miami 31, Louisville 23
2* Miami (+3 even) - I look for some big rush numbers for the canes, and would not be surprised to see a 6.1ypc average (gawdy) in this one.