It’s not like it hadn’t happened already this season. Several times over.
But when it’s the school you favor, the school to which you are devoted, you pay more attention.
And it hurts most, because the peril has struck home.
The University of Louisville Cardinals were rocked by the COVID last weekend. On the morning of Game Day.
Not only were they decimated on the defensive side of the ball, but because of that sudden disruption, discombobulated also when the Cards were in possession of the pigskin. At least until MC, Javian, Dez, Tutu and the Gang settled in and made a game of it against Virginia Tech.
Too little, too late, as some are wont to say.
For the Red & Black Faithful, it’s easy to believe the outcome might have been, could have been, would have been different if so many regulars hadn’t been protocoled & quarantined out of action.
So, not only was I, as a Cardinal fan, sad about the L, it was the only pick I missed. Indiana, Cincy, Georgia and Auburn all prevailed as your erstwhile Swami predicticated.
That 4-1 slate upped my record to 27-19-3 for the season.
Don’t duck, here come this week’s winners:
Michigan @ Indiana. Is this the year for IU? The Hoosiers have not beaten the Wolverines in this century. Not since ’96 to be precise. 24 straight times, the Crimson & Cream have been forced to trudge off the gridiron, with “Hail to the Victors” as soundtrack. IU’s W over Penn State has their fans optimistic. Go Blue’s L to Sparty has their fans calling for Coach Khaki’s head on a spike. Is this the year for IU? Yes.
Florida vs. Georgia. I guess I could look up to definitively know whether or not there will be fans in the stands for the Cocktail Party? But I didn’t. Because, you know, the virus is just a scam to many in that football-obsessed part of the land, so my guess is there will be plenty. What they and those of us at home will get to view is a most interesting SEC matchup, probably to decide who gets Bama in the title game. I’m not an especially big fan of Darth Gator, given his crowd baiting shenanigans last week. But his QB Kyle Trask is significantly better than his counterpart. And his mates will prove to be just better enough than the Bulldogs to prevail.
Clemson @ Notre Dame. Dabo’s replacement for his regular QB, who not only has a truly awful haircut but is out with you know what, is real freshman D.J. Uiagalelei. Yes, I had to look up the spelling. No, I do not know how to pronounce it. The kid is big, and showed maturity in leading the Tigers back in the 2d half against a stubborn, sneaky good BC squad. The Irish haven’t been truly relevant on the national scene for a way long time now, and are looking to make a statement in Prime Time at home. I don’t see it happening.
Arizona State @ Southern California. Take note that kickoff for this PAC12 matchup between league contenders is set for Noon EST. When I check the math, that tells me it will be 9:00 AM in LA PST. Can Gus Johnson generate his usual cranked-to-11 exuberance at such an early hour? Well, we’ll find out. Are the Trojans ready to meet expectations with their latest wünderkind QB Kedon Slovis at the helm? Last time these schools met in the Coliseum, the Sun Devils snapped a 19 game USC home W streak, surviving in the last minute by retrieving an onside kick. It won’t happen again this time.
Louisville @ Virginia. Despite its W last time out against overrated North Carolina, Bronco Mendenhall’s Cavaliers are kind of a mediocre contingent. It’s 2-4 record is just about right. I’m among those who believe the Cards are better than their 2-5 mark, meaning they improved significantly after the Georgia Tech L. But, just as things got rolling in the right direction, the COVID jumped on the scene. I hate hate hate picking against my Cardinals, but can’t see a way for Coach Satt to rally his depleted troops enough to win in Charlottesville. I will be so grateful if I am wrong.
— c d kaplan