LOUISVILLE vs. MEMPHIS ? November 4th, 7:30 pm
I see Memphis getting a lot of love around the forums today and I have to admit that I see absolutely no reason for it. The talk about the lack of line movement makes no sense to me since this game opened at 10.5/11, has now been bet up to 14 in some Vegas casinos and is up to 14.5 at many offshore books. There are several very good reasons for that and this Memphis bandwagon is one that I will not be jumping on.
First of all, Louisville is a much better team, plain and simple. Their record stands at 5-1 with their only loss coming at Miami by 3 points in the closing minutes of the game. Cardinal QB LeFores ranks 2nd in the nation in passing efficiency with 1,164 yards, seven touchdowns and only one interception. His backup Brohm is possibly the better quarterback and has passed for 505 yards with a 68% completion rate. With this tandem, the Cardinals are averaging 42 points and 508 yards per game which includes a very healthy 228 yards per game on the ground by a solid trio of running backs. The defense is allowing their opponents an average of 280 yards and only 13 points per game.
That brings us to the target of today?s lovefest, the Memphis Tigers. Well, the Tigers are allowing 379 yards and 27 points per game against such competition as Ole Miss, Chattanooga, Arkansas St., UAB, Houston, Tulane and of course, the Cincinnati Bearcats who embarrassed them with a 49-10 spanking in their last game. This offense has been anchored by the heroics of QB Danny Wimprine who has passed for 1,618 yards and twelve touchdowns on the season; well, he also has eleven interceptions. RB DeAngelo Williams is nearing the 1,000 yard mark and is able to keep defenses guessing but considering the level of competition, that?s not really saying a whole lot since UAB is the only team with a winning record that Memphis has faced this season. In the game against Cincy, the Tigers defense failed to make a single tackle for a loss of yardage. Their pass defense is porous having allowed 17 touchdowns and they have pulled in only five interceptions. Did I mention that between Louisville?s two quarterbacks, the Cardinals have only thrown two picks all year?
Last but certainly not least, Louisville is the No. 14 team in the country and HC Bobby Petrino, who has his eyes on a nice bowl game to finish the season, is not likely to let his squad forget their 37-7 loss to Memphis last year. The last game That Louisville played on October 22nd ended in a 49-9 victory over South Florida. Let?s see, didn?t South Florida put a beat down on UAB just last Night? Oh yeah, that?s the UAB team that beat Cincinnati on October 2nd. Hmm, who was it again that Cincy took to the woodshed for a 49-10 whipping on October 23rd?
The Verdict: LOUISVILLE in a ROUT! (10*)
I see Memphis getting a lot of love around the forums today and I have to admit that I see absolutely no reason for it. The talk about the lack of line movement makes no sense to me since this game opened at 10.5/11, has now been bet up to 14 in some Vegas casinos and is up to 14.5 at many offshore books. There are several very good reasons for that and this Memphis bandwagon is one that I will not be jumping on.
First of all, Louisville is a much better team, plain and simple. Their record stands at 5-1 with their only loss coming at Miami by 3 points in the closing minutes of the game. Cardinal QB LeFores ranks 2nd in the nation in passing efficiency with 1,164 yards, seven touchdowns and only one interception. His backup Brohm is possibly the better quarterback and has passed for 505 yards with a 68% completion rate. With this tandem, the Cardinals are averaging 42 points and 508 yards per game which includes a very healthy 228 yards per game on the ground by a solid trio of running backs. The defense is allowing their opponents an average of 280 yards and only 13 points per game.
That brings us to the target of today?s lovefest, the Memphis Tigers. Well, the Tigers are allowing 379 yards and 27 points per game against such competition as Ole Miss, Chattanooga, Arkansas St., UAB, Houston, Tulane and of course, the Cincinnati Bearcats who embarrassed them with a 49-10 spanking in their last game. This offense has been anchored by the heroics of QB Danny Wimprine who has passed for 1,618 yards and twelve touchdowns on the season; well, he also has eleven interceptions. RB DeAngelo Williams is nearing the 1,000 yard mark and is able to keep defenses guessing but considering the level of competition, that?s not really saying a whole lot since UAB is the only team with a winning record that Memphis has faced this season. In the game against Cincy, the Tigers defense failed to make a single tackle for a loss of yardage. Their pass defense is porous having allowed 17 touchdowns and they have pulled in only five interceptions. Did I mention that between Louisville?s two quarterbacks, the Cardinals have only thrown two picks all year?
Last but certainly not least, Louisville is the No. 14 team in the country and HC Bobby Petrino, who has his eyes on a nice bowl game to finish the season, is not likely to let his squad forget their 37-7 loss to Memphis last year. The last game That Louisville played on October 22nd ended in a 49-9 victory over South Florida. Let?s see, didn?t South Florida put a beat down on UAB just last Night? Oh yeah, that?s the UAB team that beat Cincinnati on October 2nd. Hmm, who was it again that Cincy took to the woodshed for a 49-10 whipping on October 23rd?
The Verdict: LOUISVILLE in a ROUT! (10*)
