-Biggest games of the upcoming football season:

Yesterday 247sports came out with their list of the 100 most attractive games of the upcoming football season. 4 of the Louisville games below made that list. I agree with their assessment but decided to add a few games of my own to the list. I also added my own insight into why these games are so important for the Cardinal Football program.

-Kentucky at Louisville, Sept. 2, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) – The bitter banter has heated up this summer between UK and Louisville fans. We have had twitter wars, Facebook wars, and billboard wars but now its time for the gridiron version of “The Battle of the Bluegrass” to take center stage. Both programs will be on display for the nation to watch on a Sunday afternoon. The build up for this game has been as big as ever. UK leads the all-time series 14-10, but UofL snapped a four-game losing streak with last year’s 24-17 win in Lexington. Our Cards are the heavy favorites in this one and victory will be sweet. Its Louisville versus Kentucky and possibly the most important game on our schedule.

-Louisville at Pittsburgh, time and TV TBA – Another big rivalry game as the Cards head to Pitt to face the Panthers. Pitt has won four straight in the series, including 21-14 last year. The Cards need to stop their streak and show them why we are the Big East favorites. Plus this game will mark the last against Pitt as a Big East member. They will be headed to the ACC for 2013. Would be nice to send them out with a big L. This game could really play a major role in deciding the Big East Champion.

-USF at Louisville, Oct. 20, TBA – This rivalry has added some sparks in recent years. Both were picked at the top of the Big East at media days. Louisville was picked #1 with 219 votes and USF was picked #2 with 176 votes. It is almost certain that both will be battling it out for the conference title this season. Both of these schools also have the best young coaches in college football with Charlie Strong and Skip Holtz. Louisville won the game last season in South Florida 34-24.

-Cincinnati at Louisville, Oct. 26, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) – This should be a great Friday night battle for the Keg of Nails. U of L and UC have a football rivalry that has stretched over the span of 3 conferences from the Missouri Valley Conference, to Conference USA, and more recently in the Big East Conference. It is believed to be the oldest rivalry for the Louisville football team and the second oldest for UC. UC has won the last 4 in this series. Time for our Cards to win back the keg.

-Louisville at Rutgers, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) – I don’t need to remind Cardinal fans about the last time we were Big East favorites and had a perfect season going into New Jersey. I still get a sick feeling in my stomach just thinking about it. It may be déjà vu as they may need this game to win the conference title and advance, most likely, to the Orange Bowl. Let’s hope for a better outcome this time around.

-Orange Bowl (at Miami Gardens, Fla.), Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) — ACC champion vs. BCS at-large.

-Sugar Bowl (at New Orleans), Jan. 2, 8 p.m. (ESPN) — SEC champion vs. BCS at-large.

I put the Bowl games most likely to have our Cardinals in them if we have the season we expect. I would prefer to face a SEC powerhouse in the Sugar Bowl. Would be awesome to get a shot at one of the big boys. But the Orange Bowl would be great as well. I just want to see our football program bring home another BCS trophy in what will be the final season of the current system.

Enough with the hype, breakdowns, and preseason rumblings. Let’s play some football..!