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Then think faster, bigger.

Welcome to the world of the 19th-ranked Louisville Cardinals' offense. Louisville ranks third nationally behind Southern California and Texas Tech in average points per game (47.6). It leads NCAA Division I in yards per reception (15.5). Its quarterback, sophomore Brian Brohm, rates ahead of Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart of USC in just about every significant passing category, including this little factoid that offers a barometer of big-play capability: scoring drives of two minutes or fewer (15 to 11).

Simply put, as enunciated last Saturday by North Carolina running back Ronnie McGill after Louisville's latest blitzkrieg, 69-14: "They scored points like it was a video game."

"Louisville has a penchant for the big play, and they do it in a lot of different ways," marveled coach Rich Rodriguez, whose Mountaineers (5-1 overall, 2-0 Big East) meet the Cardinals (4-1, 0-1) at 3:30 p.m. today inside Mountaineer Field. "The best teams make big plays on a consistent basis, and Louisville does that. When they have an open play, they hit it. When the ball's there, they catch it."

When the defense falters, they score on it.

More numbing numbers? Louisville ranks fourth nationally in average gain per play (7.55 yards) and third-down conversions (51.9 percent). It leads the nation with the fastest scoring drives: 2 minutes, 25 seconds on average, some 10 seconds quicker than Leinart and his Trojans.

"When you put points up fast like that, the other team starts wondering what's going on," Brohm said.

Heads spin, all right. And that's something Rodriguez and the Mountaineers, ranked 25th this week in the USA Today coaches poll, must try to avoid.

Against Louisville, their injury-riddled cornerbacks -- starter Anthony Mims hobbled the past two weeks on a hamstring pull -- and trio of safeties will have to tackle well and cover such receivers as Mario Urrutia (18 catches, 28.3 yards per catch, four touchdowns).

Against Louisville, their injury-riddled defensive line -- primarily with starting nose guard Ernest Hunter out due to an ankle sprain -- will have to contend with Michael Bush (527 yards, 11 touchdowns) and fleet George Stripling (150 yards) likely replacing Kolby Smith (250 yards), who has a knee sprain.

Against Louisville, their biggest headache just might be Brohm, the local quarterback legacy, with his father, Oscar, and brother, Jeff, having played the position there. Jeff, in fact, was the starting quarterback in a 36-34 Louisville loss in Morgantown Oct. 9, 1993, the last time these teams met in football.

"He's been bred and trained for this his entire life," noted ESPN analyst and dot.com columnist Pat Forde, previously a Louisville Courier-Journal columnist who covered these Brohm brothers. "Been a quarterback from the womb, raised and tutored by other quarterbacks. The Brohm family is hardly the Mannings in terms of football statue, but Brian is Eli in the family progression. And he's the best of the Brohm bunch."

That's saying something, because Jeff -- Brian's quarterbacks coach now -- spent seven years in the NFL.

The current Cardinals' quarterback ranks second nationally in passing efficiency, at 180.7. Coincidentally, he has thrown all 10 of his touchdown passes at home. In two road games, they scored only 31 points (in beating Kentucky) and 14 (in losing at fellow new Big East member South Florida). Brohm has heard about the perils of West Virginia, too: "When we got into the league, it might have been the first game everybody mentioned. Everybody talks about how tough it is to go play in Morgantown."

Then again, he will carry with him quite a toolbox. Not only is Louisville deep at receiver, it's thick with backs. Start with brutish Bush, who came to the Cardinals an acclaimed schoolboy quarterback after a memorable 59-56, state-championship loss by Louisville Male High to Brohm's Trinity. Bush moved to tailback in college, to help make room for 250-pound Brohm. "He could be the next Jerome Bettis," Forde said. "And I try not to practice unsafe hype."

Check out how Brohm and Bush dominated North Carolina last week: Bush 3-yard touchdown run -- 9 plays, 80 yards, 2 minutes, 35 seconds; Bush 13 pass from Brohm -- 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:00; Bush 1 run -- 5 plays, 49 yards, 2:42; Urrutia 73 pass from Brohm -- 1 play, 73 yards, :09; Jones 39 pass from Brohm -- 7 plays, 63 yards, 2:22. No wonder Louisville lead, 38-7 ... by halftime. In the end, after so many big plays and fast drives, North Carolina had given up its most points in a game in 93 years.

"Once they get rolling, it seems like they take everybody out of their rhythm what they want to do defensively," Rodriguez said. "We can't get out of our rhythm."