Louisville Clemson Football

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- If the University of Louisville football team wins its final two regular season games, the Cards will finish 8-4, which is the record that many predicted for Jeff Brohm's second Cardinals' team.

If the Cards split the games against Pittsburgh and Kentucky, they'll go to 7-5, a three-game drop from last season.

And if the Cards lose to Pitt and UK, as they did last season? Don't ask.

That is what is at stake as the Cards prepare for their final home game, Senior Day, against the Panthers.

The Time: Saturday, 4 p.m., L&N Cardinal Stadium (59,823).

How to Watch/Listen: TV — ESPN2 (Mike Couzens, play by play; Brock Osweiler, analyst; Stormy Buonantony, sidelines); RADIO — Louisville Sports Properties, 93.9 FM, 970 AM (Paul Rogers, play by play; Craig Swabek analyst; Jody Demling sidelines).

The Line: Point spread — Louisville favored by 8.5 points; Over/under total points 57.5.

The Last Time: The Panthers soiled Louisville unbeaten season at Pitt a year ago, outscoring the Cards 24-0 in a rainy second half to defeat No. 14 U of L, 38-21.

The Series: Pitt leads the season 11-9 and has won seven of the last nine meetings.

The Records: After starting 7-0, the Panthers have lost their last three to SMU, Virginia and Clemson. Pitt's best wins were over Cincinnati, North Carolina and Syracuse. Louisville sits at 6-4 after starting 3-0. All four of U of L's defeats have been by seven points or less by a combined margin of 24.

Player to Watch fir Pitt: Halfback Desmond Reid started the year as one of the top backs in the ACC, rushing for 120 yards or more in half of Pitt's first six games. But Reid has averaged 61 yards in Pitt's last four games, with one touchdown.

Player to Watch for Louisville: Halfback Duke Watson showed he was capable of delivering if a shoulder injury limits the ability of Isaac Brown. Like Brown, Watson is a true freshman. He's not as elusive as Brown, but at top speed he might be faster. Watson ran for 117 yards on 11 carries while scoring three times against Stanford.

Sideline Storylines:

  • The Panthers have the third-ranked pass rush in the nation, averaging 3.5 sacks per game. The Panthers also rank 19th nationally in interceptions with a dozen. They also average 8.7 tackles for loss per game.
  • Pitt's offensive line coach is former Card Jeremy Darveau, who started for the Cards in 2004 and 2005.
  • Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein, a transfer from Alabama, has been cleared to play Saturday but Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said he has not decided if he will go with Holstein or Nate Yarnell. Holstein suffered head injuries against Syracuse and Virginia. Yarnell threw for 350 yards and a touchdown in Pitt's 24-20 loss to Clemson last week.
  • Cards' receiver Ja'Corey Brooks has delivered five games with 100 or more receiving yards, including three of the last four. Brooks leads the ACC in receiving yards per game with 94.5.
  • The Cards rank 20th in the nation in total offense and 15th in passing offense, generating 285 of their 448 yards per game throwing the ball.
  • This is the Cards' first home game since Oct. 19. They've lost their last two home games to ACC leaders SMU and Miami.

The Quote: Narduzzi was effusive in his praise of the Cards' offense:

"(They) got Tyler Shough as their quarterback. Tyler is a gunslinger, came from Texas Tech, transfer. He can throw it. He's very, very talented and somebody that we're going to have to play really well against.

"They've got talent in the backfield, they've got talent all over the field. A lot of transfers on the football team…They're going to take their shots and go deep on us and they like to run the ball. The tailback is really good."

The Pick: Louisville 31, Pitt 24.

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