Miami (FL) @ Louisville preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 28, 2013 ) Miami 9, Louisville 36

Louisville begins the second Bobby Petrino era - and its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference - when Miami (Fla.) pays a visit on Monday night in a rematch of last season's Russell Athletic Bowl. Petrino, who coached the Cardinals from 2003-06, returned to Louisville after Charlie Strong became the head coach at Texas. However, the excitement surrounding Petrino's return was tempered somewhat by the loss of star wideout DeVante Parker, who broke his foot in practice Aug. 22 and will miss up to eight weeks.

"We're fortunate that we have a lot of experienced players," Petrino said after losing Parker, who had 55 catches for 885 yards and a school-record 12 touchdowns last season. "You're never going to replace a guy like DeVante with just one guy. You've got to do it collectively with all the weapons that we have, stepping up and making more plays." Perhaps nobody will be more affected by the Parker injury than sophomore quarterback Will Gardner, who was just named Louisville's starter last week. Miami has a challenging quarterback situation of its own as freshman Brad Kaaya takes over behind center with starter Ryan Williams sidelined with a torn ACL.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Louisville -3.5

ABOUT MIAMI (2013: 9-4): While all eyes will be on Kaaya, the bulk of Hurricanes' heavy lifting on offense will likely be handled by junior running back Duke Johnson, who ranked third in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (174.1) before breaking his ankle in early November. “We have the potential to be great," Johnson said, “but what I’m hoping for is to finally win the Coastal Division and the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. If I need to carry the load then I will, no problem. But I believe I have enough weapons around me to where I don’t have to." Among the weapons that surround Johnson is wideout Stacy Coley, who led the team with seven receiving touchdowns as a freshman in 2013.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (2013: 12-1): The Cardinals, who are beginning play in their third conference in as many years, are coming off a season in which they only suffered one defeat - a three-point loss to Central Florida in mid-October - and closed the campaign by routing the Hurricanes, 36-9. Star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is now with the Minnesota Vikings, leaving Petrino to put his faith in Gardner, who was impressive in limited action last season (8-of-12, 112 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions). On defense, Louisville has to replace seven starters but does return its two starting cornerbacks in upperclassmen Charles Gaines and Terell Floyd.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Miami went 0-for-11 on third down in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

2. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 9-2-1, although the Cardinals have won the last two meetings.

3. Not only does Louisville need to replace Bridgewater, but the team also lost two other first-round picks in defensive end Marcus Smith and safety Calvin Pryor. Miami had only three players drafted and none in the first two rounds.

PREDICTION: Louisville 31, Miami 21