CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel breaks down today's bowl game.
Stats | Schedule GMAC BOWL Louisville (7-5) vs. Marshall (10-2) 7 p.m. EST | ESPN2 Stats | Schedule
Byron Leftwich AP The natural inclination is to predict offensive fireworks galore, but the Cardinals have not been quite as explosive in recent years due to attrition at offensive line and receiver, and they do have a defense capable of at least containing Byron Leftwich and the Herd. A great matchup to watch will be stud Louisville DE Dewayne White (9.5 sacks) going against Leftwich's primary protector, tackle Steve Sciullo. Leftwich (69.1 percent completions, 4,019 yards), teaming with receivers Darius Watts, Denero Marriott and Josh Davis, is bound to put up more big numbers. The Cardinals' best hope is to produce some game-changing turnovers. Louisville's own star QB, Dave Ragone, has had an up-and-down senior season but can be lethal with the right protection. Unfortunately, he'll be going up against a very stingy Herd pass defense and pressure from rising star DE Jamus Martin. Unless the Cardinals deviate from their normal philosophy and use RBs Henry Miller and T.J. Patterson more against Marshall's soft run defense, it's hard to imagine their offense keeping pace with Leftwich.
The pick: Marshall 38, Louisville 27   Click for more picks