LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There is no reason to overwrite this and make it needlessly complicated.

If Louisville wins Saturday at Kentucky, the Cardinals will upgrade their record to 8-4. That is the record that reasonable minds forecast for U of L before the season.

The Cards can add their first Governor's Cup victory since 2017 to their first victory ever over Clemson to their list of 2024 accomplishments.

That will be a successful season.

Not a perfect season. Not a tremendous season.

But a successful season, with multiple projections placing the Cards against South Carolina in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, on Jan. 2.

If Louisville loses Saturday at Kentucky, disapproving howls will be forthcoming and they will be justified.

Louisville is favored by 3.5 points. South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Auburn have already shown it is possible to march into Kroger Field and defeat the Wildcats.

And a Louisville defeat would make it six straight losses against UK across three different coaching staffs: Bobby Petrino/Lorenzo Ward in 2018, three whiffs by Scott Satterfield and now a second game for Jeff Brohm.

Lose to Kentucky, and 2024 will be filed under a disappointing season.

Not a terrible season. Not a turn the program upside down season.

But a disappointing season.

"It's a game we have not won in quite some time," Brohm. "It's time for us to step up and find a way to play better."

By kickoff at noon Saturday, the streak will have stretched across 2,562 days.

The streak was supposed to end last season. The Cards were solid eight-point favorites. They led 17-7. They led 24-14. They were playing at home.

They lost, 38-31, as the Wildcats scored 24 points in the final 17 minutes. Brohm's offense turned the ball over three times. They were burned on a 100-yard kickoff return by Barion Brown in the third quarter.

"Back when it was the first game of the season, I was a big fan of that," Jeff Brohm said.

"Now it's the last game, and that's still good as well. But you've got to finish the season strong. And if you don't win it, man, it puts a sour taste in your mouth.

"And we had that feeling last year, and, man, it's a bad taste. It stays there for a long time. So you have to work your butt off this week to try not to have that taste come back again.

"But we've got to really play well in order to do that."

The primary question will be this: Will the Cardinals be able to score early and create a bit of breathing room?

Know this: Georgia averages 33 points per game. The Bulldogs scored 13 against UK. Ole Miss averages 38.5 ppg. The Rebels scored 17 against UK. Texas averages 36.5 ppg. Tennessee averages 37.4 ppg. They scored 28 against UK.

"They're very talented," Brohm said. "The D line is exactly the same as last year. They're big, they're athletic and they produce. This defense has produced all year long.

"I mean, they shut Georgia down. They shut Ole Miss down. They know how to play football. I think they just haven't scored as many points as they would like to this year."

Ok, that leads us to Question Two: Louisville's defense limited UK to 289 yards last season but they were burned for three touchdown passes by Devin Leary. It was his second most prolific game of the season.

Miami averages 44.7 ppg. The Hurricanes scored 52 on U of L. Stanford averages 22.1 ppg. The Cardinal delivered an upset by dropping 38 points on Louisville.

The Cards' defense cannot flounder against a Kentucky offense that ranks No. 113 in the nation and last in the Southeastern Conference while scoring 21.2 ppg.

"I know it will be a packed house, people wanting to knock each other off," Brohm said.

"And I'm sure Kentucky is going to play to knock us off and to end their season on a great note and ours on not so much of a great note.

"And they're very capable of doing that."

In fact, the Wildcats have done precisely that five straight time. For the Cards to celebrate a successful season, they cannot let that number stretch to six.

Louisville Football Coverage:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.