There’s little doubt the ESPN2 television crew will center its pregame hype of this game around the two teams’ quarterbacks.

Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell was supposed to seamlessly step into Brian Brohm’s shoes. But so far, that’s not happened. The Cardinals didn’t score a touchdown in their opening game against Kentucky and Cantwell has thrown more interceptions this season (three) than touchdowns (two). Still, he’s tagged as a nice NFL prospect and has completed 35 of 66 passes for 355 yards in two games.

Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, meanwhile, has been ranked among the top five NFL prospects at his position and U of L defensive coordinator Ron English has been telling anyone who will listen the Wildcat throws better than either of the last two Heisman Trophy winners, Troy Smith of Ohio State and Tim Tebow of Florida.

Keep your eyes, though, trained on the teams’ running attacks and the defensive run-stoppers.

Louisville redshirt freshman Victor Anderson has 145 rushing yards, although his team is averaging but 143.5. Kansas State’s defense, meanwhile, is undergoing some shuffling. Hanson Sekona, a junior college transfer, is listed as a starting linebacker for the first time and true freshman Brandon Harold will get his first start at defensive end.

In regard to K-State’s running attack, junior college transfer Keithen Valentine has taken over for suspended Leon Patton at tailback and has 104 yards on 25 carries in routs of North Texas (45-6) and Montana State (69-10). Louisville’s defense – run and otherwise – has been stunningly stout. The Cards lead the Big East in rushing (48 yards per game average), passing (145) and total (193) defense. The question: Is that Louisville defense for real?

Notes:

The two teams have only met one other time. Last season, Louisville won 23-6 in Manhattan, Kan. And the QB starter wasn’t Brian Brohm, but Hunter Cantwell, this season’s starter. He threw for 173 yards and a score in that U of L victory.

This will be Kansas State’s first road game of the year and the Wildcats’ first regular season midweek game since 1994.

Louisville’s defense has limited opponents to just 3.2 yards per play this season and a combined two touchdowns in games against Kentucky and Tennessee Tech.

Key Player (Wildcats) – Ulla Pomele, LB

Through two games, Pomele leads K-State with 11 tackles. The junior college transfer will have to be an anchor in this game with defensive changes around him.

Key Player (Cardinals) – Trent Guy, WR

With a young receiving corps, Guy, a junior, has an opportunity to step up and help out QB Hunter Cantwell. Guy, who was shot eight weeks ago in a night club, caught three passes for 35 yards against Tennessee Tech.

Kansas State by 6