– THE BEAK Governor’s Cup Preview: Louisville is back at home and looking for 2 in a row over Kentucky
This Sunday our Louisville Cardinals will square off against the Kentucky Wildcats in the classic instate rivalry game in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. With a 24-17 win last year the Cardinals will be looking for their 2nd in a row over the Cats. The last time UofL won two in a row in this series was in 05 and 06.
Since the inception of the Governor’s Cup in 1994, each team has recorded a maximum of a four-game winning streak with Louisville winning from 2003-06 and Kentucky taking the Cup home from 2007-10. The Cardinals’ win last year prevented Kentucky from winning the Governor’s Cup for a record fifth-straight year. Kentucky leads the all-time series with a record of 14-10. U of L has lead the series since 1994 with a record of 10-8. The Cards go into this game listed as a double-digit favorite by many of the Las Vegas sports books.
(QUARTERBACKS)
(RUNNING BACKS & O-LINE)
(RECEIVERS)
(DEFENSE)
(SPECIAL TEAMS)
On paper, it looks to me like Louisville has an advantage with linebackers, offensive line, defensive backs, wide receivers, and running backs. Louisville also has the advantage at the quarterback position with home field. These are two big ones.The only advantage that I would give to Kentucky in this game is on the defensive line and in the kicking game. These are slight advantages in my opinion.
The Battle of the Bluegrass really shouldn’t be that much of a battle at all. These are two programs going in very different directions. But in these rivalry games you never really know for sure as UK found out last year.
The Beak’s Prediction:
Louisville 27 Kentucky 10
Louisville will win the Governor’s Cup for the second straight year
The Beak’s Pediction for the
Howard Schnellenberger Award:
My prediction for the award this year is QB Teddy Bridgewater who will finish 17 of 24 for 198 yards with one rushing TD. I believe he will win this award due to his game management.
The 2010 game was the inaugural year for the award. The award is given to the Most Valuable Player of the game. It is named for Howard Schnellenberger, who played under Bear Bryant for Kentucky and coached at Louisville.
Previous winners:
-(9-04-2010) Derrick Locke, RB@ Kentucky had 23 Carries, 104 Yards, for 2 TD’s
-(9-17-2011) Dexter Heyman, LB@ Louisville had 12 Tackles & 1 Forced Fumbles
The weather looks to be wet for the game on Sunday as Hurricane Isaac rolls through the Ohio Valley. It will be the perfect storm. A RED STORM in Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium.