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Saturday morning Cardinal news and notes

We've been here, Tally.

By Mike Rutherford

I_medium Spread check: Florida State by 7.

I_medium Nowhere else to start but here:

I_medium Each of the 16 staff members over at Tomahawk Nation like Florida State to pick up the W over Louisville, although most expect a close game.

I_medium A full statistical breakdown of today's contest.

I_medium You don't just deal Micky Crum garbage wifi and have that be the end of it.

Seven touchdowns comin'. One for every hour of poor Friday night wifi.

I_medium In keeping with their recent theme, seven of Sports Illustrated's eight college football writers believe Louisville will lose this afternoon.

I_medium Dalvin Cook is really good, but if you watched last year's game, you already knew that.

While no one debates Cook's speed, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher gets perturbed at those who say it's just a matter of a fast guy getting the ball and running free.

"It's like saying a guy swings the bat hard, he ought to be able to hit. All of a sudden, they throw that changer, slider, the 98-mile fastball, that cutter, you can't hit," Fisher said. "He runs with great tempo. When it's burst time, it's burst time. When it's read time, it's read time. He can transition both up and back like that because he has great vision, his eyes and what he sees."

Louisville (2-3, 1-1 ACC) has firsthand knowledge of what Cook can do.

In last year's game, where Florida State trailed 21-0 before rallying for a 42-31 victory, Cook had 110 yards on nine carries, including a 38-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Seminoles the lead for good.

Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said that Cook is the most explosive back he has seen in a long time and added that it was going to be a team effort to stop him.

"He's a guy that if you give him a seam he can hit it and go the distance," Grantham said. "We've got to do a good job of setting the edge in the run game and make sure we build a wall inside to keep seams to a minimum."

I_medium In terms of consistency, Louisville has been the 18th-best team in college football this season. Florida State, for what it's worth, is No. 4.

I_medium It was a wildly successful Friday night in the world of U of L sports where all three teams in action tasted victory in ACC play.

The U of L men's soccer team notched a much-needed overtime victory over No. 19 Boston College. Here are your highlights:

Not a bad first career goal from Jack Gayton.

The ninth-ranked Cardinal field hockey team also knocked off Boston College with a 3-2 road win over the No. 13 Eagles.

And lastly, 25th-ranked Louisville volleyball team improved to 7-0 in ACC play with a 25-20, 25-14, 25-21 sweep of Wake Forest inside the KFC Yum Center.

I_medium Kelsi Worrell continues to dominate pretty much everything.

I_medium Five-star prospect Rawle Alkins was pretty pumped that Rick Pitino dropped by his school to say what's up.

I_medium U of L previews the Florida State game in 90 seconds.

I_medium All remains relatively quiet on the Katina Powell front, outside of C-J reporter Andy Wolfson confirming that Powell still is residing in the city of Louisville, and Powell's attorney posting on Facebook that now Katina is claiming her daughters only accompanied her to Minardi Hall on one occasion. Gross.

I_medium Russ Smith had another solid effort in preseason play for the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing Friday night with 15 Points, 7 Rebounds, 4 Assists and 3 Steals in a 94-78 win.

I_medium Classic Gorgui appearance about 30 seconds in:

I_medium The Louisville baseball team will hold its 10th annual "Pizza Bowl" today and tomorrow.

I_medium Despite the Cards carrying a losing record with them into Doak Campbell, Florida State has vowed all week not to overlook their Saturday afternoon guests.

I_medium The Tallahassee Democrat likes the 'Noles by 10.

Final score and why: Florida State 34, Louisville 24. Dalvin Cook gets off to a fast start, Everett Golson and the Seminoles receivers and tight ends also string together a few drives, and FSU's defense swarms Louisville enough to improve to 6-0 this season.

I_medium Wayne McGahee of Scout likes FSU, 24-13.

I_medium For all the hype that Leonard Fournette has been getting this season, Dalvin Cook has been every bit as good over his last 200 carries.

I_medium The Orlando Sentinel outlines three keys to victory for Florida State.

I_medium Steve Jones picks Florida State by 10 because everyone knows he's secretly a Kentucky fan.

I_medium Richard Pitino was asked about the situation at Louisville during Big 10 media day on Friday, and as you might expect, he had plenty to say.

"When you hear things like that it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense," he said. "... I don't think any staff in the country would know about that and turn a blind eye. To me, it just, it never happened.

"The truth will come out eventually. Everyone is kind of guessing right now, they're all allegations."

The elder Pitino, a 41-year coaching veteran with two national championships and seven Final Fours who has been at Louisville since 2001, has also publicly said he had no knowledge of the incidents alleged. Louisville and the NCAA are investigation the claims. Richard Pitino said no one has reached out to him yet.

The book contains details about conversations, texts and events, and includes some pictures. CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish reported last week that Ohio State freshman and former Louisville recruit JaQuan Lyle confirmed the allegations to an investigator.

"I know what my dad is all about, I know the program that he runs," Richard Pitino said. "You've got to understand, he's been doing this for 40 years — and he's run a clean program for 40 years. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt here.

"...I told him — put your head on the pillow at night knowing you did nothing wrong. I know that for a fact."

I_medium A quick AP capsule on Louisville-FSU.

I_medium Did you know Louisville has a lot of players from the state of Florida? Because Louisville has a lot of players from the state of Florida.

I_medium All four ESPN college football writers are picking the Seminoles.

I_medium Despite missing a couple of practices this week, Dalvin Cook is all good to go today.

I_medium And finally, beat FSU.

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