Louisville Sports Preview/Review with Jared Anderson...Enter our Contest! -- Wednesday CARDINAL COUPLE

        (Jared mentions at least 32 different people and organizations today!)

VOLLEYBALL

Another Louisville vs. Kentucky match-up this week as the VolleyCards travel east to face a highly ranked and highly talented Kentucky squad. This rivalry leans toward the gals in Blue -- they hold a 27-25 advantage overall in the history of the series. UK Coach Craig Skinner is 6-3 against our ladies since he has been in Lexington. This is, of course, Dani Busboom Kelly's first tangle with the Blue. 

The Wildcats are 7-2 on the season and have multiple wins over ranked opponents. They're currently ranked #12 in the DI polls. Their outside hitter Leah Edmond is the big weapon on offense. They have a strong back defensive line, like the Cards...but I'd take Molly Sauer and Alexis Hamilton over UK's Gabby Curry any day. 

Sitting at 5-3 our Cards are on a hot streak. They'll have a tough challenge in Memorial Coliseum but seem to have put the pieces together to contend for the upset. The Cards are looking well-rounded and starting to look like the dominant Cardinal squad from the past. 

I'm told Paulie and Jeff will be attending this one, so I'm sure they'll have plenty of tales to tell and discussion points for THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR on Saturday. 


FIELD HOCKEY

The Stick Girls look to bounce back after a Sunday 1-0 loss at Maryland. Justine Sowry's squad visits Durham to face the Duke Blue Devils. How about this -- it's a Friday night match for once instead of early afternoon. (Hint, hint UofL Athletics) 

My Minnie Mink prediction is crashing and burning like my fantasy football team -- but as the Radiers' David Carr mentioned recently -- it's not about how many stats he racks up personally, what matters is if the team wins. Let's hope to start the ACC Field Hockey season 1-0 and if "the little Dutch girl" could score 8-10 goals, I'd be right back on track. 

WOMEN'S SOCCER

The Kickin' Cards are close to boarding the struggle bus. Their loss to Purdue was anything but pretty. I will give them credit for the fight to the finish and gathering a couple of scores in the final minutes. Too little, too late but maybe something to build on. 

Coach KFD's turf dwellers will face the Runnin' Bulldogs from Gardner-Webb on Thursday night at glorious Lynn Stadium.  Be advised that this is a 5:30 p.m. start instead of the usual 7:30 we're used to. You might catch this handsome fella showing up a tad late in his banker clothes. Paulie won't be in attendance due to a previous commitment (he's missed two home games in a row and will be issued a yellow card) and I'm not sure if Case will be attending but we'll have coverage of it on Friday in Worldwide's write up. 

This is the final non-conference contest before ACC play starts...so we need a win here to get "The Battling Bjerke's" to 6-2 and help Case out with his preseason prediction of a 12-win season. 

Cards running with the bulldogs. Clear Floyd Street! 


WOMEN'S GOLF

As mentioned yesterday, the Cardinal women's "chippers and putters" were setting the Minnesota Invitational golf course on fire after two rounds. The swingers did finish tied for 5th when it all ended. The single-round school record for lowest score is quite an accomplishment for this under-publicized squad, as is the second lowest score in history for a tournament. 

And, it was their first match of the season! 

Courtney Trimble has assembled a roster that combines the best of our commonwealth golfers (Olivia Cason, Kristin Engle, Lauren Hartlage) with a couple of talented Europeans (Margot Bechadergue, Linda Trockel) plus representation from Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina and Alabama. 

Admittedly, golf is a sport that doesn't hold my fascination...but even I can see that this will be a squad to be reckoned with anywhere and anytime.  


FOOTBALL

My prediction for Saturday's game against Clemson is 41-37. We will get revenge for the last three years of close losses and Lamar Jackson will continue his madcap, all-over-the-field pursuit of a second-straight Heisman trophy. You can't tackle what you can't catch.

Please take a moment to participate in CARDINAL COUPLE'S Score Prediction contest if you'd like a free meal for you and a friend. Panera Bread has generously provided a $20 gift card to the winner. It's easy -- just pick a score and who you think will win. Paulie reports that 14 (15 counting mine) brave souls have provided their picks and the trend is currently 12-3 for the Cards to win.  

And, it's free. 

Leave your pick in the comments section or e-mail it to Sonya at cardinalcouple@twc.com
(It's about time she did some work around this place...)

You have until 7:30 p.m. Saturday to enter. We're guessing she'll have determined a winner by Sunday morning and we'll post "the Champ" here in Sunday's article. 


THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

After you are done with College Game Day festivities, be sure to tune your radio to 100.9 FM or download the WCHQ app to hear our broadcast. 

You never can tell just what the "A team" will get into. I'd expect we'll roll through everything I've written about above and I'm also suggesting we make our own Game Day posters for the studio. 

That ought to confuse the Handicapping Heroes and La Vida Loca shows that follow our broadcast sufficiently.

You really need to download the WCHQ app (available at www.crescenthillradio.com) so you can take the station with you wherever you go. You don't want to miss out on entertaining broadcasts like Kevin and Bryce's MORNING JAM, LUNCH BREAK LIVE, MIDDAYS WITH CJ, AFTERNOON DRIVE and all the other original programming available. 

Great local music and talk.  24/7. The most unique community radio station on earth! 

You definitely want to tune in tomorrow for WCHQ'S all-day on air party for the GIVE FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE fundraiser. Help WCHQ meet their goal and keep local music and programming on the air all the time! Many of your favorite hosts and on-air personalities will be coming in to man the microphones. So many and so quickly, in fact, the list was full for the day before the Cardinal Couple crew got around to offering their dubious talents to the affair! 


Go Cards! 
Jared Anderson