Louisville @ Connecticut preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 23, 2010 ) Connecticut 0, Louisville 26

THE STORY: After winning three straight, Louisville stumbled at home against Pittsburgh last week and now travels to Connecticut for an elimination contest in the Big East race. Cincinnati leads at 3-1 in the conference, but five clubs, including the Cardinals and Huskies, are right behind with two defeats. Connecticut, which earned the conference’s BCS berth last season, is coming off a bye after beating Syracuse on Nov. 5. Expect a low-scoring tilt as the teams average about 40 points combined on both sides of the ball.

TV: SNY, Big East Network, ESPN3. Line: Connecticut -1.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (5-5, 3-2 Big East): Led by freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the Cardinals have played their way into contention, but followed a 38-35 upset at West Virginia with Saturday's 21-14 loss to Pitt. The Panthers piled up 200 yards rushing, the most Louisville had yielded since the 2010 opener, and the Cardinals couldn't overcome two 14-point deficits. Bridgewater (18-for-26, 165 yards, 54 rushing yards) was steady and completed passes to nine receivers, but also threw a costly pick. Receiver-turned-cornerback Josh Bellamy made his second start at the position and posted all seven tackles.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (4-5, 2-2 Big East): The Huskies received a spark from redshirt freshman quarterback Scott McCummings, who replaced Johnny McEntee and ran for two fourth-quarter scores in the 28-21 home win over Syracuse. McEntee, who has gotten most of the snaps this season, threw a touchdown pass but also two interceptions. McCummings ran for 59 yards to complement freshman Lyle McCombs' 152. That helped the Huskies overcome five turnovers and give first-year UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni a victory over the school he coached for 14 seasons.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Huskies won five straight to close the regular season last year following their embarrassing 26-0 loss at Louisville.

2. The Cardinals have held their 2011 opposition to seven points or fewer in the first quarter of every game.

3. Don't expect Pasqualoni to change his quarterback system. “We’ve had about the same number of plays for Johnny [McEntee] and for Scott [McCummings] each week, and that’s not going to change much,” he said Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Connecticut 20, Louisville 17 – The Huskies have had two weeks to prepare for revenge.