Week 14: Rutgers at Louisville

If nothing else, the non-playoff bowl setup gives some teams motivation.

Such is the case in this game.

While all of the Big East’s bowl berths seem slotted, with Rutgers apparently headed to the Jan. 5 International Bowl in Toronto, Louisville can become bowl eligible with a victory over the Scarlet Knights.

They may or may not find a bowl invitation available. But the Cardinals have other motivation too. Last season, you may remember, Rutgers spoiled Louisville’s run for a perfect season and its national championship hopes. After leading 25-7, the U of L fell 28-25 in Piscataway.

“We still remember last season and that game and how much was at stake,” said Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm. “We definitely want to get back at them and try to win this one.”

Too both teams would like to finish on an uptick after high preseason expectations. Rutgers is in fifth place among the eight Big East teams, while Louisville is shockingly tied for sixth. Only Syracuse at 1-6 is below the Cardinals in the standings.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said it’s also important to play well before an ESPN audience.

“You’re playing on national TV in front of the whole country,” Schiano said. “You play 12 games a year. If our guys need more motivation than that, then we’ve got the wrong guys.”

Although RU is the team with the bowl in hand, Louisville is a slight favorite. The reason may be because it’s Senior Night at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

“Whether you’re playing in a bowl game or the last regular season game, you want to win that game because it does give you a little positive spring in your step,” said Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe. “We’d like for this to be a very positive situation for our senior players and, then for those coming back for the 2008 season, a springboard.”

The spotlight will be on Rutgers tailback Ray Rice and Louisville’s Brohm.

Rice has rushed for 1,612 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Doak Walker Award finalist leads the Big East and ranks third nationally in rushing with an average of 146.5 yards per game.

RU quarterback Mike Teel said this week his ailing thumb is feeling better. If he can get the ball to wideout Tiquan Underwood and sophomore Kenny Britt, that would help the cause of both Rice and Rutgers. Underwood and Britt are Nos. 2 and 3 in the Big East in receiving yards.

Brohm, meanwhile, is the Big East’s career passing leader. He’s thrown for 9,719 yards in his three seasons in the league and has 10,587 yards total (which includes the season Louisville was in Conference USA). While Rice is a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, Brohm is a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. His main target has been Harry Douglas, who leads the Big East in receptions with an average of 7.78 per game.

Don’t be surprised if Rutgers wins despite being the underdog. The Scarlet Knights have the better defense (second in the Big East). But if Louisville fans show up, Papa John’s Stadium could be the difference.

Louisville by 1