Guaranteed Pick: Larry Ness
Larry Ness' Friday Night Game of the Month-CFB: Larry got his weekeend off to a fast start by winning his 20* NLCS Game of the Year last night on the Phillies. He now turns to the gridiron for his Friday Night Game of the Month on Louisville/Memphis. Larry has a huge weekend of football releases on tap but it all starts tonight. Need a game to "jump-start" your weekend? Then look no further.
Game: Louisville at Memphis Oct 10 2008 8:00PM
Prediction: Memphis
Grade: Loser (-110)
Reason: Louisville and Memphis met almost yearly from 1961 through 2004 and have played each other 40 times. The two programs used to be C-USA rivals before Louisville left for the Big East in 2005. Louisville has played just four games (2-2) this year, as the Cards were last in action losing 26-21 at home to U Conn on September 26. Unlike Louisville, Memphis has played every weekend this year and will enter with a 3-3 mark. Which Louisville team will show up here, in its first road game of the season? In their season-opener vs Kentucky, the Cards were held to two points, as QB Cantwell completed 20-of-43 for 157 yards with three interceptions. After beating Tenn Tech, the Louisville offense was terrific against Kansas St on a Wednesday night, as Cantwell threw for 274 yards with two TDs and RB Anderson had 176 YR with TD runs of 29, 56 and 52 yards. Then against U Conn, the Cards let a 21-10 lead slip away in the late third quarter, losing 26-21 (final score was a 45-yard interception TD with 2:45 by the Huskies). Cantwell was not 100 percent in that game (especially late in the game) and despite out-gaining the Huskies 508-279 in yards (with two RBs topping 100 yards), the Cards lost. Friday, Louisville will FINALLY play a road game (hard to believe). The Tigers have turned an 0-3 start around with three straight wins. They lost 41-24 to Ole Miss in their season-opener but played the Rebels even, out-gaining them 453-438 in yards. In Game 2, Memphis led Rice 35-20 in the 4th quarter but lost 42-35, as the game-winner came on a 69-yard interception TD with 11 seconds left in the contest. Memphis gained 462 yards the next week against Marshall but scored just 16 points in a one-point loss. Tommy West (in his eighth year as the Memphis head coach) could have let his team quit after that 0-3 start but actually, just the opposite has been true. Memphis has rebounded to average 31.0 PPG in three consecutive wins over Nicholls St, Arkansas St and UAB (not exactly a murderer's row). After passing for 373 and 364 yards in back-to-back losses to Rice and Marshall, QB Hall has averaged a modest 186.7 YPG in the team's three-game winning streak. RB Steele has led the way during the team's winning streak, averaging 137.7 YPG on the ground, while averaging 7.4 YPC. Both teams have nice balance on offense but I strongly favor the home 'dog. Steele's solid running has sure helped Hall, who had four TD passes in his last game. Remember, the Tigers return their top-seven pass-catchers from last year and five different receivers have TD receptions through six games in '08. Steve Kragthorpe took over at Louisville as its head coach in '07. The Cardinals had gone to nine straight bowls and since the beginning of this decade, had posted a 68-20 (.773) record. Louisville went just 6-6 last year and ended its nine-year bowl run. The school's 2-2 start this year is again a huge disappointment (remember, all four games have been at home) and I have no interest at all in laying points with this team in its first road game. Friday Night Game of the Month 15* Memphis.
Larry Ness' Friday Night Game of the Month-CFB: Larry got his weekeend off to a fast start by winning his 20* NLCS Game of the Year last night on the Phillies. He now turns to the gridiron for his Friday Night Game of the Month on Louisville/Memphis. Larry has a huge weekend of football releases on tap but it all starts tonight. Need a game to "jump-start" your weekend? Then look no further.
Game: Louisville at Memphis Oct 10 2008 8:00PM
Prediction: Memphis
Grade: Loser (-110)
Reason: Louisville and Memphis met almost yearly from 1961 through 2004 and have played each other 40 times. The two programs used to be C-USA rivals before Louisville left for the Big East in 2005. Louisville has played just four games (2-2) this year, as the Cards were last in action losing 26-21 at home to U Conn on September 26. Unlike Louisville, Memphis has played every weekend this year and will enter with a 3-3 mark. Which Louisville team will show up here, in its first road game of the season? In their season-opener vs Kentucky, the Cards were held to two points, as QB Cantwell completed 20-of-43 for 157 yards with three interceptions. After beating Tenn Tech, the Louisville offense was terrific against Kansas St on a Wednesday night, as Cantwell threw for 274 yards with two TDs and RB Anderson had 176 YR with TD runs of 29, 56 and 52 yards. Then against U Conn, the Cards let a 21-10 lead slip away in the late third quarter, losing 26-21 (final score was a 45-yard interception TD with 2:45 by the Huskies). Cantwell was not 100 percent in that game (especially late in the game) and despite out-gaining the Huskies 508-279 in yards (with two RBs topping 100 yards), the Cards lost. Friday, Louisville will FINALLY play a road game (hard to believe). The Tigers have turned an 0-3 start around with three straight wins. They lost 41-24 to Ole Miss in their season-opener but played the Rebels even, out-gaining them 453-438 in yards. In Game 2, Memphis led Rice 35-20 in the 4th quarter but lost 42-35, as the game-winner came on a 69-yard interception TD with 11 seconds left in the contest. Memphis gained 462 yards the next week against Marshall but scored just 16 points in a one-point loss. Tommy West (in his eighth year as the Memphis head coach) could have let his team quit after that 0-3 start but actually, just the opposite has been true. Memphis has rebounded to average 31.0 PPG in three consecutive wins over Nicholls St, Arkansas St and UAB (not exactly a murderer's row). After passing for 373 and 364 yards in back-to-back losses to Rice and Marshall, QB Hall has averaged a modest 186.7 YPG in the team's three-game winning streak. RB Steele has led the way during the team's winning streak, averaging 137.7 YPG on the ground, while averaging 7.4 YPC. Both teams have nice balance on offense but I strongly favor the home 'dog. Steele's solid running has sure helped Hall, who had four TD passes in his last game. Remember, the Tigers return their top-seven pass-catchers from last year and five different receivers have TD receptions through six games in '08. Steve Kragthorpe took over at Louisville as its head coach in '07. The Cardinals had gone to nine straight bowls and since the beginning of this decade, had posted a 68-20 (.773) record. Louisville went just 6-6 last year and ended its nine-year bowl run. The school's 2-2 start this year is again a huge disappointment (remember, all four games have been at home) and I have no interest at all in laying points with this team in its first road game. Friday Night Game of the Month 15* Memphis.
Yeah, he's awful.
