Matchup: West Virginia (5-1, 2-0 Big East) vs. Louisville (4-1, 0-1), 3:30 p.m. today, Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, W.Va. Louisville is favored by 7.

TV/radio: ABC Regional in Ohio, West Virginia and ESPN Game Plan; WWVA-AM (1170) and Mountaineer Sports Network. Games also can be heard at www.MSNsportsNet.com.

West Virginia: Leads the six-game, 21-year-old series by 5-1. ... Coincidentally, last time they played also was a homecoming game with national prominence on the line and two quarterbacks on the field for the Mountaineers. Jake Kelchner and Darren Studstill directed No. 20 West Virginia to 36-34 victory against bowl-bound Louisville and quarterback Jeff Brohm, now the Cardinals' quarterbacks coach to little brother, Brian. ... Mountaineers, ranked No. 25 in coaches poll, will miss short-yardage RB Jason Gwaltney (MCL sprain) and sturdy NG Ernest Hunter (ankle sprain). ... RB Steve Slaton gained 229 yards the past two games. ... QB Adam Bednarik completed 32 of his past 37 passes and may need to pass to loosen up Louisville. ... Sports Illustrated this week predicted West Virginia among five teams about "to fall."

Louisville: Averages 64 points per game at home, 22.5 on road. ... Lost, 45-14, at South Florida in Big East opener when Bulls ran for 251 yards, passed only 10 times and used a couple of early Louisville turnovers to stake a lead, then penalties and pass rush to hold it. ... For all their offensive dynamics, the Cardinals may possess most dominating defender in nation: DE Elvis Dumervil has 12 sacks. He also has forced seven fumbles and intercepted a pass. Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez compares him to Syracuse DE Dwight Freeney, with NFL Colts. ... Careful with the football, Louisville has fumbled just twice and thrown three interceptions. Compare that to 10 fumbles and four interceptions by opposition. ... Average nearly 11 penalties for 76.8 yards per game.

Hidden stat: Louisville coach Bobby Petrino is 1-3 against ranked teams, that lone victory coming last year in the Liberty Bowl against 10th-ranked Boise State. In the past quarter-century, the program is 8-21 vs. Top-25 teams.