Location: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
CARDMARCH: 3:45 p.m.
Game Time: 6:00 p.m.
Line: None
Series History: First Meeting
Last Time: First Meeting
ATTENDING:
A few hundred tickets remain through the box office at UofL for the FCS match-up vs. Samford. There are also tickets available through the various secondary markets at reasonable prices as well.
CardMarch will happen in its usual location from Central through the tunnel & into Gate 4. Gate 4 will remain open but fans who typically use Gate 4 that require ADA entrances will need to utilize Gates 3 or Gate 5 from the South during the 2015 season as the Thornton’s Academic Center for Excellence Construction is under construction and pathways will be a compacted gravel surface. All entrances EXCEPT Gate 4 will be available for patrons who need assistance.
Additionally, PJCS will continue to provide golf carts in the Green & Bronze lots to & from the stadium. Fans who require assistance should make their way to the West drive lane of the Green/Bronze lots to find the Accessibility Shuttle Service. After the game, the Shuttle Service will assist patrons at Gate 5.
LISTENING
The broadcast will be available on Louisville Sports Properties and the Tune In Mobile App. The legendary voice of the Cards Paul Rogers will provide play-by-play with Craig Swabek providing color and Doug Ormay from the sideline. The game will also be available on Satellite Radio Sirius Channel 145, and XM Channel 194.
WATCHING
The television broadcast is available through the on-line platform of WATCHESPN (ESPN3). Test your connections to your various devices that support WATCHESPN prior to game day.
Jim Barbar will provide play-by-play and John Gregory will be the color analyst for ESPN.
My Prediction
Louisville needs a win. Any win. Starting 2015 0-3 was a worst case scenario and facing 4 losses dating back to the bowl game vs. Georgia to close 2014 UofL Football needs a little love. So this game vs. Samford is coming at a really great time.
Samford’s coach Chris Hatcher was hired away from Murray State (Louisville’s FCS opponent last year) and he’s taken his style over to the Bulldogs. Hatcher’s Bulldogs will try to spread out the Cardinal defense and hope to find seams for some big gains like the Racers were able to a year ago. Pulling the trigger is 6’5, 240 lbs Arizona State transfer Michael Eubank who has started off hot. Eubank is little threat to run, and so far this season Samford has been most successful when the Bulldogs are able to run the ball….which I don’t expect them to be able to do. Samford does have some nice receivers and with Louisville’s struggles tackling it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Bulldogs find some nice chunk plays.
Offensively fans should prepare for Lamar Jackson to start at QB. Samford has a few very capable players but lack overall depth. The Bulldogs should be strong up the middle but if Lamar Jackson gets going the Samford defense will most likely be gassed early and be forced to go into its depth. Louisville should be able to move the ball well against Samford anyway, and the Cards are likely going to attempt to set the tone early and often on the ground after only gaining 19 yards rushing a week ago vs. Clemson. Samford will attempt to get into the backfield and they have shown an ability to create takeaways through the passing game. In a way, this is a fantastic prep game for Lamar Jackson.
The Cards cruise.
Louisville 48, Samford 13
Cardinal Comparison: Team Stats 2015 vs. 2014
| 2015 | 2014 | |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 24.0 (104th) | 31.2 (53rd) |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 357.3 (104th) | 394.7 (72nd) |
| Passing Offense (ypg) | 248.3 (56th) | 252.0 (47th) |
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 109.0 (116th) | 142.69 (95th) |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) | 28.3 (86th) | 21.8 (24th) |
| Total Defense (ypg) | 396.7 (81st) | 308.5 (6th) |
| Passing Defense (ypg) | 190.7 (47th) | 199.6 (27th) |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) | 206.0 (100th) | 108.92 (10th) |
| Punt Returns (ypr) | 13.67 (32nd) | 7.41 (70th) |
| Kickoff Returns (ypr) | 29.33 (10th) | 21.06 (61st) |
| Opponent Punt Returns (ypr) | -2.00 (1st) | 9.71 (97th) |
| Opponent Kickoff Returns (ypr) | 26.00 (112th) | 22.60 (101st) |
| Punting (ypp) | 41.29 (69th) | 39.85 (94th) |
| Field Goal % | 42.9% (121st) | 78.9% (34th) |
| Opponent Field Goal % | 71.4% (62nd) | 88.5% (123rd) |
| First Downs (per game) | 22.7 (50th) | 20.4 (77th) |
| Opponent First Downs (per game) | 22.3 (93rd) | 15.3 (4th) |
| Penalties (ypg) | 43.3 (29th) | 49.3 (50th) |
| Turnover Margin (season) | -2 (91st) | +4 (41st) |
| Time of Possession | 29:00.00 (78th) | 32.:31.62 (15th) |
| Sacks (per game) | 1.00 (102nd) | 3.15 (10th) |
| Sacks Allowed (per game) | 3.67 (123rd) | 3.08 (115th) |
| Tackles for Loss (per game) | 4.33 (109th) | 6.77 (28th) |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed (per game) | 7.00 (106th) | 7.15 (116th) |
| Interceptions (season) | 6 (7th) | 26 (1st) |
| Passes Defended (per game) | 5.00 (33rd) | 5.92 (10th) |
| Fumbles Recovered (season) | 0 (last) | 4 (120th) |
| Fumbles Forced (season) | 0 (last) | 7 (107th) |
| Fumbles Lost (season) | 3 (88th) | 16 (123rd) |
| Kicks/Punts Blocked (season) | 0 (last) | 1 (72nd) |
| 3rd Down Conversions (%) | 36.59% (90th) | 39.2% (76th) |
| Opponent 3rd Down Conversions (%) | 43.48% (100th) | 31.79% (10th) |
| 4th Down Conversions (%) | 80.00% (23rd) | 52.38% (54th) |
| Opponent 4th Down Conversions (%) | 50.00% (54th) | 25.00% (4th) |
| Red Zone Conversions (%) | 76.92% (103rd) | 82.76% (68th) |
| Opponent Red Zone Conversions (%) | 85.71% (81st) | 76.92% (26th) |
| RedZone TD Conversions (%) | 61.54% (61st) | 67.24% (29th) |
| Opponent Red Zone TD Conversions (%) | 42.86% (24th) | 41.03% (4th) |
| Kickoffs (ypk) | 63.79 (33rd) | 62.58 (26th) |
| Plays | 215 (52nd) | 939 (56th) |
| Yards Per Play | 4.99 | 5.46 (73rd) |
Pre-Game Interviews
Petrino begins at the 20:40 mark.
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