Florida International @ Louisville preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2012 ) Louisville 28, Florida International 21

Louisville will try to avoid a letdown Saturday at home when it hosts Florida International, a team that has given the Cardinals fits the last two years. Louisville is coming off a 27-13 victory at Kentucky in its first road game last Saturday, which vaulted the Cardinals to the No. 6 spot in the country. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 250 yards and a touchdown as Louisville won for the 14th time in its last 16 games.

One of those wins was a narrow 28-21 victory at the Golden Panthers last Sept. 22, when Bridgewater struggled a bit in throwing two interceptions. That Louisville win came a year after Florida International traveled to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and came away with a 24-17 upset, the school's first against a team from a BCS conference, that being the now-defunct Big East. The Golden Panthers enter this one on a much different note, having dropped their first three games by a combined score of 115-23.

TV: Noon. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Louisville -43

ABOUT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (0-3): The Golden Panthers had two turnovers and committed seven penalties in a 34-13 loss at home to Bethune-Cookman last weekend. More notable was the fact that they were outgained on the ground by a 311-73 margin, which does not bode well against a Louisville rushing attack that found its groove at Kentucky. Sophomore quarterback Jake Medlock threw for a season-high 149 yards and had his first passing touchdown in the loss.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (3-0): While the Cardinals have had their difficulties with the Golden Panthers, they also have experience with letdowns following emotional wins over in-state rival Kentucky. In 2011, Louisville followed up a win at the Wildcats with a 17-13 loss at home to Marshall in Bridgewater's first career start. "I think we're a different team now,” coach Charlie Strong said at his weekly press conference. "It's a more mature team now. ... I'm not so worried about the fake juice, because I think that with the veteran team we have now, they're going to come out and compete and go play well."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Louisville ranks ninth in the nation in passing offense. Florida International is 116th out of 123 schools.

2. Cardinals senior RB Sinorise Perry had 100 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries against Kentucky.

3. Including the Cardinals, each of the first four opponents for the Golden Panthers are currently 3-0.

PREDICTION: Louisville 49, Florida International 3