Matchup Preview: Louisville
Louisville vs. Purdue
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX (Tim Brando, Play-by-Play; Spencer Tillman, analyst; Holly Sonders, sideline)
Radio (Purdue): Sirius 196 / XM 119 / Tunein.com (Tim Newton Play-by-Play; Pete Quinn, analyst; Kelly Kitchel sideline)
Pregame: Gold and Black Radio at 11 a.m. Friday | Gold and Black LIVE at 2 p.m. Friday
Purdue roster | Purdue Schedule/Results | Purdue Game Notes
Louisville roster | Louisville schedule/Results | Louisville Game Notes
More: Coordinators Corner (Nick Holt) | Freshman Focus: KeyRon Catlett ($) | McCollum happy to end journey at Purdue; notebook | Mailbag: Gauging Improvement ($)
Purdue run game vs. Louisville against the run
Purdue may use a handful of running backs against a Louisville defense that returns eight starters and finished No. 14 in yards allowed last year. There is a question of how well the Cardinals' relative lack of size up front will hold up against a power run team, but is Purdue that? The Cards will rely on three or four defensive lineman who haven't played much, so that gives the Boilermakers some reason for hope.
Purdue passing game vs. Louisville against the pass
With Purdue's uncertainty at quarterback, its new offensive line and relative inexperience at receiver, this appears to be an uphill climb for the Boilermakers. Edge rushers James Hearns and Trevon Young are projected to be some of the best in the ACC, and that isn't a good thing for David Blough or Elijah Sindelar ... or for Jared Sparks. Cards' cornerback Jaire Alexander is a physical, big-play guy with five picks last year and is being touted as an All-American. Purdue will have its hands full in this matchup.
Louisville running game vs. Purdue against the run
The Cardinals have three experienced senior running backs despite losing top back Brandon Radcliff to graduation last year. But their top running back isn't a running back: It's quarterback Lamar Jackson. All the talk around Louisville is how Jackson will fall far short of his astronomical rushing numbers from last year (1,571 yards) and the offensive line is inexperienced but ... Jackson is a pretty good place to start. If this game is to be competitive, Purdue will have to be able to force the Cardinals into obvious passing downs. That will not be easy.
Louisville passing game vs. Purdue against the pass
This will be interesting to watch. Yes, Jackson is being groomed, so to speak, to be more of a dropback passer to hopefully make him a better pro prospect. And Louisville's offensive line is supposed to be better with its two best players (Geron Christian and Lukayus McNeil) back and a massive freshman in Mekhi Becton (6-7, 340) scheduled to start. But there is some opportunity, if Purdue can force it into passing situations. Still, Jackson has bulked up in size (he now weighs 211 pounds) and is supposed to have been much improved in reading defenses. And let us not forget, he threw for 3,543 yards and 30 scores last year ... begging the question, just how much better can he get?
Special Teams
Purdue punter Joe Schopper and placekicker J.D. Dellinger should be nearly on equal footing with what the Cardinals bring to the table, though it won't be easy. Cardinal punter Mason King set a school record with a 43.9 average last year, and placekicker Blanton Creque has increased his range to 51 yards. The problem will be containing Alexander in the punt return game, where the junior averaged 10.5 yards a return (fifth best in school history) last year and took one to the house on a 69-yarder against Florida State. Purdue is very untested in its punt return game.
Intangibles
This is a hard one to call, if not impossible. There is so much optimism on the Boilermaker sideline as the Jeff Brohm Era begins, but is there enough talent to turn that optimism into a competitive game?
On the Louisville side, the Cardinals slide to a 9-4 season last year appears to have left them hungry to prove people wrong. Did it also show there is some weakness Purdue can exploit? A good question that can't be answered until Saturday night.
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