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Published Oct 10, 2013
Rutgers vs. Louisville: Game Preview
Bobby Deren
ScarletNation.com Senior Writer
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Rutgers vs. Louisville
Kickoff: 7:30
p.m. at Papa John's Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
What's at stake: Each team will be looking to move
to 2-0 in AAC league play. Rutgers began conference play
with a 55-52 triple overtime win last week over SMU.
Louisville started its conference schedule with a 30-7 win
over Temple.
Series history: Rutgers lead the all-time series 7-5.
Louisville has won the last three meetings, the previous two
by a total of five points. In primetime games on ESPN, the
series is tied 2-2.
Rutgers wins if:
  • The RU defense slows down
    • Teddy Bridgewater. The Cardinals' starting quarterback
    has 16 touchdowns to just one interception this season.
    He is among the very best in the country and keeping
    Bridgewater contained will be vital to Rutgers' success.
    • Gary Nova plays has a huge game.
      • Making up for deficiencies in the running game and on
      the defensive side of the football could all fall on
      Nova's shoulders. If he can continually move the Rutgers
      offense downfield, it will be a huge plus. And in a high
      scoring affair, a precise Nova will be necessary for RU
      to emerge victorious.
      Rutgers loses if:
      • The defense cannot find a way to shut
        • down the Cardinal passing game.
        Rutgers has given up 940 passing yards against SMU and Fresno
        State as each team totaled 52 points against the Scarlet
        Knights. A repeat performance by the RU defense against
        Louisville won't make this a close game.
        • The RU defense does not get any pressure. Leaving Teddy
          • Bridgewater with time in the pocket would enable him to pick the
          RU defense apart. A steady pass rush will also take some of the
          pressure off Rutgers' young and very green secondary.
          Keep an eye on
          The Rutgers true freshmen. Rutgers will have three freshmen
          looking to play a key part in tonight's game. Running back Justin
          Goodwin could very well see the lion's share of the carries
          tonight. He proved very effective last week against SMU rushing
          for 149 yards while adding 73 receiving yards as well as scoring
          the game-winning touchdown.
          Return specialist Janarion Grant has made a big
          difference this year for Rutgers with two touchdowns. Rutgers will
          most likely need some special teams fireworks tonight to come away
          with a win. Grant is very capable of providing those fireworks.
          Cornerback Nadir Barnwell could earn his third
          consecutive start. This will be his biggest test of the year as
          the former four-star prospect will be facing arguably the best
          quarterback in the country. What a difference a year makes for the
          true freshman.
          They said it
          Darius Hamilton on facing Teddy Bridgewater:
            Lorenzo Waters on fixing the communication
          in the secondary:
          Charlie Strong on the Rutgers-Louisville rivalry coming to an
          end:
          The odds
          The oddsmakers leaned heavily
          towards Louisville with what is now a 19-point spread. This
          number seems a little high for what figures to be a hard
          fought battle between familiar opponents. Taking Rutgers
          with the points looks to be a smart bet even though its
          defense has yielded 104 points against two similar offenses.
          Look for Rutgers to cover on the road tonight as 19 just
          seems like much too high of a number.
          Did you know...
          • From
            • the start of his head coaching career at Rutgers,
            Kyle Flood has experienced one streak after the
            other. He started things off with seven straight
            wins and followed it up with a loss to Kent State.
            Flood responded with two wins followed by four
            losses and is now riding a four game winning
            streak. 
            • Rutgers has scored 28
              • points or more in the first five games. That is a
              first in school history. The Scarlet Knights are
              averaging 40 points through the first five games
              compared to 25.4 points per game through the five
              games of last season.
              • The longest punt return last year for Rutgers was 22 yards.
                • This season, true freshman Janarion Grant returned punts for 48
                and 57 yards in the Arkansas game alone. He is averaging 11.4
                yards per return. Last year, as a team, Rutgers averaged 6.5
                yards per return.
                  Key Injuries
                  Louisville
                  -
                  WR Devante Parker. The Cardinals' leading
                  receiver with
                  21 catches for 395 yards and six touchdowns
                  is healing up from a shoulder injury and will be a game time decision.
                  Rutgers
                  - RB Paul James. When he went down with a lower leg
                  injury late in game no.4, James was the nation's leading
                  rusher with 573 yards. He is out for tonight's game.
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