The Associated Press
No. 21 Louisville (2-0, 1-0 ACC) at Virginia (1-1, 0-0), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Line: Louisville by 6 1/2.
Series Record: Series tied 1-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE:
The Cardinals go on the road for the first time, bringing a high-powered offense to Scott Stadium, where the Cavaliers’ offense is a work in progress, but the defense has been stout through two games.
KEY MATCHUP:
Louisville offensive line vs. Virginia’s defense: The Cardinals have a veteran offensive line charged with protecting QB Will Gardner and opening holes for the ground game. The Cavaliers’ attacking style under John Tenuta has registered nine sacks and forced nine turnovers (second nationally) in the first two games, with LB Max Valles getting 3 1/2 sacks and LB Henry Coley getting 2 1/2. Whichever unit has more success disrupting the other should go a long way toward determining the outcome.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Louisville: RB Dominique Brown is 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, averages 4.8 yards per carry and 91 yards per game. His ability to get into the linebackers and force them to know where he is could make the Cavaliers blitz less and stay home more, which goes against everything Tenuta wants to do.
Virginia: QBs Greyson Lambert and Matt Johns. Presumably both will play for the third week in a row, and their ability to make some completions down the field would help the running game a lot. The Cavaliers have struggled on the ground, and with ball control as the goal, they need to find a way to make it work.
FACTS & FIGURES
Louisville is looking to win its seventh consecutive true road game, a feat the Cardinals have not achieved since the 2002-03 season. … New coach Bobby Petrino, in his second tour at Louisville, has a 39-5 record against unranked opponents. … Last season, Virginia forced 21 turnovers and scored just 13 points off them. This season, they’ve forced nine and turned them into 31 points. … The Cavaliers are looking to end a 10-game losing streak in ACC play, and an 11-game skid against FBS competition.
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