FACTS & STATS: Site: Liberty Bowl (62,380) -- Memphis, Tennessee. Television:ESPN. Home Record: Louisville 2-2, Memphis 2-1. Away Record: Louisville 1-2, Memphis 0-0. Neutral Record: Louisville 0-0, Memphis 0-0. Conference Record: Louisville 0-1, Memphis 1-2. Series Record: Louisville leads, 21-19.

GAME NOTES: The Louisville Cardinals and Memphis Tigers are set to rekindle their rivalry this Friday, as they lock horns in a non-league bout at the Liberty Bowl. The Cardinals and Tigers have met 40 times previously on the gridiron, with Louisville holding a narrow 21-19 edge in the series. The two programs used to be Conference USA rivals before Louisville left for the Big East, so they haven't met since the Cardinals posted a 56-49 victory at the Liberty Bowl in 2004. The Cardinals though, enter this game on a low note, as they dropped a tough 26-21 decision to Connecticut in their conference opener on September 26th. The loss snapped a two-game win streak and dropped Louisville to an even 2-2, with all of its games coming at home. As for Memphis, it has clawed its way back from an 0-3 start by winning each of its past three outings. The team was last in play on October 2nd, when it pulled out a thrilling 33-30 victory at UAB. The Tigers now head back home, where they have gone 2-1 thus far.

The Cardinals possess a balanced attack of 212.8 ypg on the ground and 222.5 ypg through the air and even production between the run and pass has helped them to average 28.0 ppg. Turnovers though, have been an issue for Louisville, which has already committed 10 in just four games. In the team's last game, the Cardinals rolled up 508 total yards, including 261 via the run, but turned the ball over three times and that was the difference in a 26-21 loss to UConn. The most costly of the turnovers came with under three minutes left in the game, as quarterback Hunter Cantwell was picked off by a UConn defender, who took the interception back 45 yards for the game-winning score. It was a tough finish for the Cardinals and Cantwell, who battled through an ankle injury to throw for 247 yards, with one touchdown against two picks. Listed as probable for this game, Cantwell hasn't enjoyed a ton of success early on and has completing 57.8 percent of his tosses with five picks versus the same amount of touchdowns. Doug Beaumont has clearly been his favorite target thus far, leading the team with 29 catches and 385 receiving yards. He had six receptions for 106 yards against UConn, but remained without a touchdown catch for the season. Bilal Powell paced the ground game against UConn with 112 yards and a score on 11 carries, while Victor Anderson also cracked the century mark with 100 yards and a score on 19 totes. For the season, Anderson paces the team with 421 yards and five scores and Powell ranks second with 209 yards.

Defensively, Louisville has been surprisingly good through the first four games, limiting opposing clubs to just 252.0 total ypg. The unit has suffocated opposing ground attacks, giving up just 70.8 ypg, while holding foes' passing to just 181.2 ypg. The defense has even forced nine turnovers to help compensate for the miscues by the offense. In Louisville's most recent contest, its defense was superb and couldn't really be faulted in the loss to UConn. The defense held UConn to just 279 total yards, while recording three sacks and forcing a turnover. Maurice Mitchell accounted for two of the team's sacks and Chris Campa paced the defense with seven stops. Jon Dempsey chipped in with five stops, giving him a team-high 20 tackles for the year.

Moving the ball and scoring points hasn't been an issues for Memphis thus far, as it is currently producing 28.0 ppg behind 462.7 total ypg. The offense has found success on the ground (190.5 ypg) and through the air (272.2 ypg) and it is converting 48 percent of the time on third down. Last week, the Tigers rolled up 436 total yards, including 192 rushing, and used a 25-yard field goal Vinny Zaccario with two seconds left to upend UAB 33-30. Quarterback Arkelon Hall led the charge, as he threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns. It was another fine effort by Hall, who has now thrown for 1,456 yards, with eight touchdowns against five picks for the season. Hall can also use his legs to beat opposing defenses, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown for the year. Carlos Singleton has been his primary outlet in the passing game, as he leads the team with 33 receptions and 522 yards. Last week, Singleton was a big factor, posting five catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. Tailback Curtis Steele also did his part in the win, rushing for 101 yards on 14 carries. It was another solid performance from Steele, who leads the team with 578 yards behind a 6.4 ypc average for the season.

The Tigers' defense has had some issues this season, but the unit has been able to compensate for things by forcing nine turnovers and recording 14 sacks. The unit however, is giving up 373.7 total ypg and that includes 170.5 ypg on the ground. Of the team's 17 touchdowns surrendered, 12 have come via the run and that is an area Memphis needs to improve upon. Against UAB last week, the Tigers were beat for 220 yards on the ground and another 235 through the air. The defense however, stepped up by registering two turnovers and four sacks and holding UAB To just 14 points in the second half. Clinton McDonald continued his fast start, as he notched a pair of sacks in the victory. One the top pass rushers in the conference, McDonald now has a team- best seven sacks for the season.

Both teams have shown they can be effective on the offensive side of the ball, so expect a high scoring affair in this one. Memphis has the edge playing at home and the support of its home crowd should help Hall and company emerge victorious for a fourth straight time.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Memphis 34, Louisville 28

Friday, October 10th, 8:00 p.m. (et)