Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
As difficult as the first half of the season was for Louisville, the second half does not figure to get much better.
Other than the Halloween game at home against Arkansas State, the Cardinals might not be favored in another game this season. Yes, they get Syracuse at home, but the Orange have won two in a row in the series. Louisville had to travel to No. 5 Cincinnati this week and has road trips remaining at West Virginia and South Florida, two places where it's never had much success.
The Cardinals' best hope is that Victor Anderson gets healthy and the offense starts humming. Otherwise, the second half will almost certainly be dominated by chatter about Steve Kragthorpe's job status and speculation on his successor.
Best case: Louisville holds serve at home against Arkansas State, Syracuse and Rutgers and manages one road shocker to finish 6-6 and gain bowl eligibility.
Worst case: The seven-game Big East losing streak grows and grows. With Kragthorpe a lame duck, the team rolls over. The Cardinals beat Arkansas State but can't find a win anywhere else to end up 3-9.
Prediction: No bowl.
As difficult as the first half of the season was for Louisville, the second half does not figure to get much better.
Other than the Halloween game at home against Arkansas State, the Cardinals might not be favored in another game this season. Yes, they get Syracuse at home, but the Orange have won two in a row in the series. Louisville had to travel to No. 5 Cincinnati this week and has road trips remaining at West Virginia and South Florida, two places where it's never had much success.
The Cardinals' best hope is that Victor Anderson gets healthy and the offense starts humming. Otherwise, the second half will almost certainly be dominated by chatter about Steve Kragthorpe's job status and speculation on his successor.
Best case: Louisville holds serve at home against Arkansas State, Syracuse and Rutgers and manages one road shocker to finish 6-6 and gain bowl eligibility.
Worst case: The seven-game Big East losing streak grows and grows. With Kragthorpe a lame duck, the team rolls over. The Cardinals beat Arkansas State but can't find a win anywhere else to end up 3-9.
Prediction: No bowl.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
BIG EAST SCOREBOARD
Friday, 11/27
11:00 AM ET Rutgers Louisville - ESPN2 / 360
- Tickets
- Conversation
12:00 PM ET Illinois 5 Cincinnati 7:00 PM ET 9 Pittsburgh West Virginia
Saturday, 11/28
12:00 PM ET Syracuse Connecticut - ESPN 360
- Tickets
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3:30 PM ET 17 Miami (FL) South Florida
