Bridgewater Ready to Begin Heisman Run, Cincinnati Starts Season with Two Quarterbacks
College football kicked off on Thursday and as the weekend continues, numerous teams will get their chance to begin their seasons. For the American Athletic conference’s newbie and top contender, the Louisville Cardinals, it will kick things off on Sunday by taking on the Ohio Bobcats.
Teddy Bridgewater
Louisville entered the preseason at No. 9—its highest ranking ever. After winning the Big East conference two straight times, they will look for a third straight title win in its new conference. The Cardinals have quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is a potential Heisman winner (9/1) with his 3,718 passing yards (68.5% pass completion) and 27 touchdowns from 2012.
Fortunately he’ll be surrounded by 19 returning starters including 12 on defense.
For Bridgewater, he has veteran offensive weapons including senior running back Senorise Perry well as transfer Michael Dyer, who ran 1,000 yards for Auburn back in 2010 during its National Championship year. Fellow backs Dominique Brown and Corvin Lamb will also see playing time.
Factor in the team’s fast wide receivers including Damian Copeland, DeVante Parker and Eli Rogers and Bridgewater has plenty of talent to choose from.
Look for Louisville to face a tough test in Week 1 against Ohio. Last year the team surprised Penn State and beat them in the first game.
Last season, Ohio’s offense ranked No. 27 with its running game. The team rushed 203.3 yards per game compliments of senior running back Beau Blankenship. He set a school record by rushing for 1,604 yards and 15 touchdowns; he brings high expectations for 2013 as he sits on the Maxwell and Doak Campbell award watch lists.
His quarterback could also pose a challenge for the Cardinals, senior Tyler Tettleton. He had 2,844 passing yards with 18 touchdowns in 2012. The team also fares well with takeaways and last season, ranked No. 7 in turnover margin at +1.15.
For the Cardinal’s they’ll take their first game against Ohio seriously and throughout the season they’ll have to face new competition in the AAC including Central Florida, Houston, Memphis and Temple.
Ohio and Louisville have played one another once before, way back in 1959. Ohio got a 22-15 win and for this second meeting, the win goes to the Cardinals (-20.5, 57.5 o/u).
Other AAC Games
On Saturday, Cincinnati will take on Purdue in a battle of two new coaches. Darrell Hazell has his debut for Purdue while Cincinnati has Tommy Tuberville.
The Bearcats are following this year’s trend of not naming a quarterback and sixth-year senior Brendon Kay will battle it out against fellow senior Munchie Legaux for the spot. Both are expected to play in Saturday’s game and both have experience as starters who can pass and run.
In 2012 as a starter, Legaux went 6-2, completing 120 for 230 passes, 1,716 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine picks. He rushed for 335 yards on 55 carries with four touchdowns. But then Kay stepped in and went 4-1. He completed 87 for 138 passes, 1,298 yards, 10 touchdowns and two picks along with 306 rushing yards with two touchdowns.
Kay was the Belk Bowl’s MVP.
Brendon Kay
Earlier this season Kay was at the top of the depth chart but has been battling a sore shoulder.
For the Boilermakers, Purdue named Rob Henry as its starting quarterback earlier in the month. He’ll undergo his first start since 2010.
The two teams have played one before, back on Sept. 2, 2001. Purdue was a 19-14 winner and for this meeting, Cincinnati will get the win (-10.5, 49.5 o/u) in front of a sold out home crowd.
In other Saturday games, South Florida will take on McNeese State. They’ll get their first win of the season (-20.5, 46.5 o/u).
Temple plays Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish will get a big win (-29.5, 53 o/u).
