Three things to like and dislike about Louisville football’s bowl match-up

Like: Louisville’s offense matches up well with MSU’s defense

We are going to get more into the breakdowns and X’s and O’s leading up to the game but a simple glance over Mississippi State’s season leads one to believe that the Cards’ offense could be in for a big day against the Bulldogs.

MSU allows 149 yards per game on the ground and 250 through the air. When you take away some of their buy games, the numbers become even more telling.

The Mississippi State defense definitely looks vulnerable, and Louisville’s offense is among the best in the country.

State has not played too many teams with a rushing and receiving duo like Javian Hawkins and Tutu Atwell.

Dislike: I’m tired of Mississippi State

I know I can’t be the only one who thinks we’ve had to sit through wayyyy too many games with Mississippi State.

Whether it’s having to listen to the annoying cowbells (which won’t be allowed into Nissan Stadium – THANK YOU LORD), or to their obnoxious, holier than thou baseball fans who think they could’ve had Dan McDonell if they really wanted him, it seems like every time we think we’re going to get a break from Mississippi State they pop back up.

• 2017: Football – TaxSlayer Bowl – L
• 2018: Men’s basketball – NIT Quarterfinals – L
• 2018: Women’s basketball – Final Four – L

Over the course of about six months, Louisville went head-to-head with Mississippi State on three different occasions over three different sports. All of them ended with Louisville losing.

It all started with the decision of one defensive coach.

In 2016 after a 9-3 season, Louisville football defensive coordinator decided he had had enough of one Bobby Petrino – leaving the Cards for the same position at Mississippi State. In the process, Louisville somehow landed on former defensive coordinator at Mississippi State Peter Sirmon for their open vacancy, and in some sort of Freaky Friday mishap, Louisville became cursed with matchups against Mississippi State.

First came the football loss where Mississippi State was without their starting quarterback, back up quarterback, running back, wide receiver, head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator (seriously, this happened) and still won 31-27.

Next came a quarterfinal NIT loss ending the David Padgett era and a streak of really fun Louisville home basketball games.

Then the women’s loss – which was without question the worst. The referees essentially robbed Louisville and Jeff Walz to a much-deserved National Championship. A lot of fans still haven’t moved past this.

Now here we are. Louisville will go back to battling with the most boring Mississippi State team in years and have to stop a top 20 rushing attack. Dammit. I feel confident the staff can get it done and move past some of the issues we saw a few weeks ago. But man, just when you think you’ll get a matchup against an SEC team that isn’t Mississippi State – the football gods decide to be funny.

P.S – This is all Tennessee’s fault if we’re being honest. For a program that goes 6-6 every year, they sure do seem to get whatever the hell they want.