The Pinkie Previews: Syracuse (3-6, 0-4) at Louisville (3-6, 0-4)

Game: Louisville vs Syracuse
When:Saturday, November 14th
Time: Noon
T.V. WHAS 11 (Insight Channel 4 or 908)
Radio: A.M. 790 WKRD

Tomorrow afternoon there will be a battle for last place in the Big East at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.  The Louisville Cardinals welcome  fellow Big East cellar dweller the Syracuse Orange into town to see which teams  postseason hopes will officially end.  Bothteams come in with a record of 3-6 and 0-4 in the conference.  One more loss by either team makes it impossible for them to become bowl eligible, and they will play the rest of the season for nothing.  Louisville is coming off a 17-9 road defeat at the hands of West Virginia, while the ‘Cuse dropped a 37-10 decision at Pittsburgh.  It’s gonna be a battle of pride tomorrow afternoon and here is how things are shaping up:

The ’Cuse 

Syracuse comes in led by their Senior quarterback Greg Paulus.  That’s right, it’s the same Greg Paulus that we all hated from the Duke basketball team for the past four years.  Paulus is playin in his first football season since his senior year of high school five years ago.  Paulus has played relatively well this season throwing for 1,497 yards and 10 touchdowns.  He does have a tendency to make mistakes and throw interceptions as he has 13 of them on the season.  Paulus has been very accurate this season completing 144/221 passes for a 65.2% completion percentage.  He is on pace to break the school record for completion percentage at a program that once had Donovan McNabb at the helm.  The Cards are going to need to pressure Paulus and make him throw some mistakes.  If the defense gives him time, he will pick the secondary apart.

At running back, Syracuse has some talent.  Delone Carter will get the bulk of the carries for the Orange and he is having a career year.  The senior has rushed the ball 166 times for 723 yards and 8 TD’s.  He has already set his season high in rushing with three games left to play.  The Cardinal defense is going to have to repeat what they did last week and shut down Carter like they did Noel Devine of WVU.  This means the front line has to fill the gaps and the linebackers and defensive backs need to get to the edges quickly to stop Carter from making the big play. 

The Cardinals caught a huge break two weeks ago when the ‘Cuse main offensive weapon decided to quit the team.  Receiver Mike Williams was leading the team by a wide margin in receptions, yards, and TD’s.  When he quit, he had 49 receptions for 746 yards and 6 TD’s.  He was also the only receiver to start every game on the season.  Now the leading receiver is Donte Davis who has just 19 receptions for 188 yards and 1 TD.  That’s a big drop off. 

Syracuse comes into this contest with the worst defense in the league.  They are allowing 376 yards per game which is last in the BE and 71st in the NCAA.  They also allow 28 points per game which is also last in the BE and  83rd nationally.  Surprisingly, the ‘Cuse have the best rushing defense in the Big East.  They allow only 106.44 yards per game on the ground which is good for 23rd nationally.  The Cards are going to have to air it out successfully in order to open up the ground game.  The passing game is going to be key if Louisville wants a victory.

Offensively, the Orange have struggled despite their talent.  They rank second to last in the BE is scoring offense at 20.3 points per game which is just ahead of Louisville at 19 ppg.  Syracuse is dead last in the league in yards per game at 309.5 and also rank last in passing yards and rushing.  Hopefully, the Louisville defense can keep them in the cellar.

Key’s to Victory
If Louisville is to win, here is what they need to do:

1) The defense needs to have a repeat performance from last week.  They need to get pressure on Paulus and keep Carter under control.  Force the offense to make tough plays to beat you.  The ‘Cuse offense is dead last in the league so the Cardinal D can’t let them off the hook.  Force Paulus into bad decisions and create turnovers. 

2) Louisville must pass the ball successfully.  This means put Adam Froman at quarterback.  He gives the Cards the best chance to win and is the best passer on the team.  Take advantage of the weak secondary of Syracuse and get the ball to the play makers Scott Long and Douglas Beaumont.  Louisville only has six passing TD’s all year so this needs to change tomorrow.  The passing game will then open up the running game and the offense can operate efficiently. 

3) Protect the quarterback.  Louisville has allowed 28 sacks this season (3.2 per game) which ranks 112th in the nation.  Give the quarterback time to pick apart the terrible pass defense of the ‘Cuse.  If Froman or Stein keeps his jersey clean, the Cards should win.

4) Get off to a fast start.  Louisville has scored on its first drive only once this season and has scored just 31 points in the first quarter.  Jump on the Orange early and often and take control of the game from the start.  Take Syracuse out of the game early and it will be a good day.

5)  Good news for Cardinal fans is that Victor Anderson should be returning.  He is key part to this offense and the running game.  Going up against the number one rushing defense in the league, the Cards need him.  I look for him and Darius Ashley to be a one-two punch that will knock the Orange out.

Come out to PJCS at noon cardinal fans and help keep the season alive.  Show some pride in our school and help this team get a W.  It’s like Coach Kragthorpe said, if you don’t want to support him, that’s ok.  But come support the players.  They deserve our support as they lay it on the line every week.  Fill the stadium and help these kids squeeze the Orange.