LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (0-0) vs. INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES (0-0)  

Game Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium: Louisville, Ky.

Television: WHAS

Announcers: Drew Deener/Doug James

Favorite: No Line

All-Time Series: Louisville leads 5-3-1

Last Meeting: Indiana State won 44-21 in 1984

Excitement Level (1-10): 2.3

This would be higher if I were actually attending the game, but a wedding is going to prevent that. Still, even if I were going to PJCS the level wouldn't be as high as it should for a season opener because of just how bad these guys are. This will, without a doubt, be the worst college team to ever to play in this stadium.

Game Attire: Khaki suit

Predicted Star of the Game: Victor Anderson

The opportunity for stat-stuffing has never been more available, and I'd be surprised if Kragthorpe didn't try and let VA snatch some bottom line numbers.

Obscure and Bold Prediction: Indiana State tries a trick play and it fails miserably. 

I'm thinking botched double pass.

Notable and Quotable

--I own a pair of Indiana State shorts that I wear fairly religiously.

--I'm still cheering for Louisville.

--Indiana State coach Trent Miles is 0-13 in his second season.

--"Do I want to play them? No, I definitely don't want to if I don't have to. But we have to, and there's no ifs, ands or buts about it. We need to get the most money we can out of games like this and go out and compete the best way we can and move on to the next." --Trent Miles

--"We’re really excited, to tell you the truth. It’s a huge opportunity to shock the world on a big stage. I don’t know how many people the place holds exactly [42,000], but it would be kind of nice to do it." --Brock Lough

"Walking up to the stadium (Monday) I was just smiling — it's game week. I'm sure that's how plenty of us seniors are. … We're ready to get after Indiana State." --Jon Dempsey

--""I feel like we need to come out and start our season strong. We need to prove to ourselves that we can be good. We won't be overlooking anybody. You always look to improve and that's what we're looking to do this year." --Greg Scruggs

--"Indiana State has already played a game and we had a chance to look at that film. The schemes that they employed last year and this year are a little bit different. I thought they would throw the ball a little bit more than what they did in that game. They only threw it 18 times with (Wyoming transfer Chris Stutzriem). They did have a 75-yard halfback pass for a touchdown and that's something we anticipate."--Steve Kragthorpe

--"I'm so excited for this game. It's been a long time since we lined up against somebody else. The best thing is we have an opportunity to start 1-0. This is going to be a great year for us." --Johnny Patrick

CC Prediction: Louisville 66, Indiana State 0

If U of L has any trouble at all moving the ball then something is seriously wrong. Kragthorpe needs all the positive mojo he can get, and he showed in his first game at Louisville two years ago that he's not afraid to run it up a little bit.

I'd really like to be overly positive about all of this, but aside from newcomers being able to get into the flow of a season, Justin Burke getting a feel for his receivers and things of that nature, this game is essentially meaningless.

GO CARDS.