Louisville @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2010 ) Kentucky 23, Louisville 16

THE STORY: The two top football programs in the Commonwealth collide when Louisville travels to Kentucky. Louisville is trying to snap a four-game losing streak against the Wildcats. A more immediate concern, though, is bouncing back from a 24-17 loss at home to Florida International. Kentucky has won 18 straight non-conference home games.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: Kentucky -6.5

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (1-1): Louisville ranks among the top 50 teams in the four major defensive statistical categories. The Cardinals also outgained Florida International by more than 150 yards and tallied 24 first downs. But Louisville allowed touchdown passes of 74 and 83 yards, and committed a pair of turnovers. A foot injury is expected to sideline starting center Mario Benavides for a third consecutive game.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (2-0): Through two games, the Wildcats rank last in the SEC and among the worst in the FBS in passing offense (105.5 yards per game) and total yardage (267). Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton has completed 44.4 percent of his throws this season. Running back Josh Clemons, meanwhile, is peaking. He ran for 126 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in a 27-13 victory against Central Michigan on Sept. 10 to earn co-freshman of the week honors from the SEC.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kentucky has allowed six sacks in 2011. It gave up 19 in 13 games last season.

2. Keep an eye on Louisville tight end Josh Chichester, who made six catches for a career-high 111 yards against Florida International.

3. Louisville coach Charlie Strong engineered some bulletin-board material for his own squad this week when he proclaimed Kentucky the better football team in his weekly news conference. “He’s a big-time motivator, so a lot of what he says we can’t take it literally,” Cardinals quarterback Will Stein said.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 27, Louisville 13 - Kentucky’s defense should be too much for Louisville to handle, and prove Strong’s proclamation correct.