Louisville football: How to watch, listen, key match-ups vs. Kentucky

Louisville football enters one of the more evenly-matched Governors Cups in recent memory looking to get to eight wins on the season and keep the momentum rolling into bowl season.

As a Louisville football and basketball-specific writer, I typically try to avoid any and all conversation about the University of Kentucky at all costs.

It’s fun to rivalry at times, but I’ve always felt that talking down towards another group of people weakened any and all credibility and seemed like a cheap way to garner attention.

BRL is a Louisville site, and we focus on Louisville here.

This week, however, is different. This week, we turn our attention to the constant elephant in the room. Because this week, all bets are off.

This is Kentucky hate week. And we kind of have to talk about the dreaded team to the east.

The Louisville-Kentucky rivalry is just different because nowhere else do you spend 365 days a year among the very people you have grown to disdain.

Ohio State-Michigan? That’s cool, but two campuses separated by over three hours seems like enough room to make thanksgiving meals a bit more one-sided.

Perhaps Duke and North Carolina have a substantial argument, but even those two fan bases seem to be civil enough to make things work.

UofL-UK is just different. And that’s why when Scott Satterfield and the Cardinals travel to Kroger Field on Saturday, Louisville fans are going to be out for blood.

The pleasantries are over now. It’s time to rivalry.

Louisville football has a chance to exorcise almost all of its demons from a year ago.

After one of the worst seasons in school history, the Cards turned the tables on Boston College, Wake Forest, Virginia, NC State, and Syracuse.

Now, Louisville has a chance to exact revenge on the most important team of all: Kentucky.

After Cats fans came to Cardinal Stadium in droves in 2018 to witness a historic blowout win during their best season ever, BBN didn’t mind stomping on Louisville’s grave one bit.

Now is a chance to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Throw all stats out the window. It’s time to rivalry. And it’s time to exact the most important revenge of all.

Who: Louisville vs. Kentucky

When: Saturday, November 30th, 2019 at 12:00 PM

Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, KY

Spread check: Kentucky -3.0 (via The Action Network)

Podcast Preview:

How to watch: SEC Network

Uniform check:

Players to watch:

Micale Cunningham, Louisville QB

If he had enough passes to qualify, Micale Cunningham would lead the entire country in QBR. The Cards’ quarterback has been deadly both passing and rushing, particularly as a big-play threat.

If the Cards are going to beat the Cats, they will need Cunningham to be on top of his game. Much has been made of the weather on Saturday, but Cunningham managed to brave the elements against Virginia, NC State, and Syracuse just fine this season.

If Louisville can open things up in the passing game, they will be tough to beat.

Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky QB

UK fans are going to tell their kids Lynn Bowden was Lamar Jackson.

Okay, not really, but the Cats’ do-it-all receiver-turned-quarterback has been responsible for almost all of Kentucky’s success on offense in the latter half of the season. After starter Terry Wilson went out for the season and their back-ups were largely terrible, Mark Stoops made the decision to put their best playmaker behind center in order to get the ball in his hands as often as possible.

Bowden has gone over 100 yards rushing in his last four games, coming up a yard short of the century mark against Georgia and eclipsing the 200-yard mark on only 21 rushes against Missouri.

There’s no secret to Kentucky’s offense. Stop Bowden and the rushing attack and you’re going to be in a really good spot. Let UK stay on the field and you’re in for a real challenge.

Match-up to watch: Louisville rushing offense vs. Kentucky rush defense

Kentucky’s strength is on defense. Their goal is to get you off the field as quickly as possible and control the time of possession, thus keeping their legs fresh.

Louisville’s strength is rushing the ball effectively in order to set up the pass.

Something has to give.

If Louisville sees continued production from starter Javian Hawkins- who eclipsed 200 yards against Syracuse- it’s tough to see the Cats keeping up on defense.

Go Cards. Beat UK!