FACTS & STATS: Site: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (42,000) -- Louisville, Kentucky. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Rutgers 5-3, Louisville 3-2. Away Record: Rutgers 2-1, Louisville 2-4. Neutral Record: Rutgers 0-0, Louisville 0-0. Conference Record: Rutgers 3-3, Louisville 2-4. Series Record: Rutgers leads, 5-1.

GAME NOTES: The Louisville Cardinals will try to become bowl eligible this Thursday, as they take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Big East play at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals enter their regular season finale with just a 5-6 mark and need a win in this game to become bowl eligible for the 10th straight season. While a win will give the program the minimum amount of wins to be considered for a bowl game, a spot in the postseason is by no means a lock considering Louisville is guaranteed a losing Big East (2-4) campaign. Not matter what happens, the Cardinals' 2007 campaign will be regarded as disappointing, as they were nationally-ranked and considered a national title contender at the beginning of the season. The team has been knocked off repeatedly and it has dropped its last two games, including a 55-17 beating at the hands of South Florida on November 17th. As for Rutgers, it has already clinched bowl eligibility and is now searching for another winning campaign in the Big East. The team most recently defeated Pittsburgh, 20-16, on November 17th to pull to an even 3-3 in conference play. It was the second victory in a row for the Knights, who have now won at least seven games for the third straight season. The last time the program accomplished that feat was from 1978-80. Rutgers leads the all-time series with Louisville, 5-1, and that includes a 28-25 triumph last season in what is being considering the biggest win in the program's history. The two teams were both highly ranked and undefeated in 2006 and the Knights came out on top at home and handed the Cardinals their only loss of the season.

Rutgers' offense revolves around its ground attack, which is averaging 193.5 ypg behind the powerful running of Ray Rice. One of three finalists for the 2007 Doak Walker Award, Rice leads the Big East with 1,612 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns for the season. He has rushed for 100 yards or more in six straight games and he has totaled over 100 yards on eight occasions this season. In the team's last game, Rice rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, leading the Knights to a 20-16 victory over Pittsburgh. It was a gritty performance by Rice, as he had to pick up the slack for quarterback Mike Teel, who has been playing with a thumb injury. Teel was obviously bothered by the injury in the Pittsburgh game, as he completed just 3-of-9 tosses for 98 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. On a positive note, Teel had an extra week to rest and he should be ready for this game. That is obviously good news, considering he has thrown for 2,579 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Tiquan Underwood will certainly be happy to see a healthy Teel under center, as he has been his main target this season, leading the squad with 58 catches, 965 receiving yards and six scores.

Defensively, the Knights have done a solid job slowing down their opponents this season, as they are giving up just 20.1 ppg and only 305.2 total ypg. The unit has been especially strong against the pass, yielding just 153.6 ypg and only 10 touchdowns through the air. Getting to opposing quarterbacks is another strength of this unit, which has 30 sacks to its credit. In the club's most recent outing, Rutgers put forth a tremendous effort on defense, as it limited Pittsburgh to a mere 219 total yards, including only 108 via the pass. The Knights also forced four turnovers, in addition to recording three sacks in the win. Kevin Malast led the charge with 11 tackles and a sack, and he leads the team with 84 stops for the year.

For Louisville, its strength on offense resides on its passing game and that is accounting for 351.5 of the team's 489.0 total ypg. Quarterback Brian Brohm is in the midst of another tremendous campaign and he leads the Big East with an average of 344.3 passing ypg. Brohm has also thrown for a school-record tying 29 touchdowns passes, which also leads the league. Brohm however, is coming off his worst performance of the season, as he threw for just 213 yards and a touchdown against three interceptions in a lopsided loss to USF. It was an uncharacteristic performance from Brohm, who completed just 18-of-37 tosses in the setback. Harry Douglas though, had another big game, as he pulled down eight balls that went for 136 yards and a score. In just nine games this season, Douglas leads the Cardinals with 70 catches and 1,113 receiving yards and he is tied for the team-lead with seven receiving touchdowns. Tight end Gary Barnidge is another weapon Brohm has utilized and he ranks second with 48 catches and 590 yards. He is also tied with Douglas for touchdown catches.

The big problem for Louisville this season has been its defense, which is allowing 30.8 ppg and 416.4 total ypg. The unit hasn't shown it can stop the run (166.5 ypg) or the pass (249.9 ypg), and it has recorded just seven interceptions and only 17 sacks. In the club's last contest, the Cardinals were torched by USF for 481 total yards, including 230 on the ground. The defense gave up six touchdowns in the game and allowed USF to convert 7-of-15 third down attempts. Lamar Myles paced the club in the loss with 14 tackles, while Deon Palmer accounted for both of the team's sacks. On the season, Myles has clearly been the team's best defensive player, as his 120 tackles are nearly triple the next closest player on the roster.

Louisville has a lot on the line, so expect it to come out with a lot of energy. The Cardinals have the edge playing at home and behind the strong arm of Brohm, they should be able to come out on top in a close one.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Louisville 34, Rutgers 28