Louisville @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2012 ) Kentucky 14, Louisville 32

Teddy Bridgewater looks to build on his early-season productivity when No. 7 Louisville visits in-state rival Kentucky on Saturday. The junior quarterback passed for 752 yards and nine touchdowns in the Cardinals’ first two victories and completed 19-of-21 passes in Louisville’s win over Kentucky last season. The Wildcats are transitioning under first-year coach Mark Stoops and the offense rolled up 675 yards in last Saturday’s 41-7 rout of Miami (Ohio).

Kentucky had 413 passing yards and 262 on the ground against Miami in the second game under new offensive coordinator Neal Brown to rack up the third-most yards in program history. The Wildcats rotated sophomore quarterbacks Maxwell Smith and Jalen Whitlow in the first two games and now face a rugged Louisville defense that allowed just seven points in each of two victories. The explosive Cardinals rank fifth in passing offense (406.5), tied for 16th in scoring offense (46.5 points) and 18th in total offense (545.0).

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: Louisville -13.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (2-0): Bridgewater has completed 46-of-60 passes through two games and threw five touchdown passes in the season-opening win over Ohio University and followed up with four scoring passes in last Saturday’s victory over Eastern Kentucky. Junior receiver DeVante Parker has nine receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns but the running game has yet to get untracked with senior Senorise Perry leading the way with a modest 94 yards. Senior middle linebacker Preston Brown leads the defense with 17 tackles and two sacks and junior safety Calvin Pryor and senior safety Hakeem Smith each have an interception for a unit that ranks 13th in total defense (239.5).

ABOUT KENTUCKY (1-1): Smith is the better downfield passer – he’s 23-for-36 with 435 yards and four scores – and Whitlow (20-for-27, 181 yards) adds another dimension and ranks second on the Wildcats with 123 rushing yards. Junior-college transfer Javess Blue is coming off a 114-yard receiving outing but junior wideout Demarco Robinson is questionable with an ankle injury. Kentucky’s defense held Miami to 122 total yards and 1-for-16 on third-down conversions while junior defensive end Za’Darius Smith (four sacks) was a force by recording three of the unit’s six sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kentucky leads the series 14-11, but Louisville has won the past two games – including a 32-14 home victory last season.

2. Parker’s 19 career receiving touchdowns are tied for third in school history. Ibn Green (1996-99) holds the record of 33.

3. The Wildcats allowed opponents to convert just 3-of-26 third-down opportunities over their first two games.

PREDICTION: Louisville 52, Kentucky 20