How to watch Miami vs. Louisville: Preview, TV schedule, odds, more

The 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl will live again ... sort of. Charlie Strong and Teddy Bridgewater have left Louisville, but the Cardinals will take on Miami Monday in a rematch of last year’s 36-9 Louisville win.

It’s not often you get a bowl rematch in a conference opener, but realignment does funny things to the college football schedule. Louisville has made the move from the AAC to the ACC, and gets what could be a very tough task against a new-look Miami offense. True freshman Brad Kaaya won the starting quarterback job for the Hurricanes, while star running back Duke Johnson has returned after injury cut his 2013 campaign short.

Louisville has a new look as well, but it’s a strikingly familiar one. Former head coach Bobby Petrino is back at his old stomping grounds, bringing his high-powered offense with him to the ACC. Sophomore Will Gardner will take Bridgewater’s quarterback job, but he’ll be without top target Devante Parker, who is out six to eight weeks with a toe injury.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Radio: Here’s a list of Louisville affiliates. Here’s one for Miami.

Online streaming: WatchESPN

Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked in the AP or Coaches Poll, but both received votes in both polls. This is the first game of the season for each team. Miami holds a 9-2-1 all-time lead in the series.

Vegas: Louisville is a 3.5-point favorite, with the line moving slightly in the Cardinals’ favor after opening at 3 points. The over/under has stayed steady at 53.5 points.

Weather forecast: 74 degrees and partly cloudy.

Bobby Petrino, Head Coach, Louisville: Everywhere the man has gone (and he’s gone a lot of places), controversy has followed. He returns to his first coaching gig after eventful stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Arkansas and Western Kentucky. In four years with the Cardinals, he posted a 41-9 record and two conference titles in two different conferences.

Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami: The four-star true freshman was named the starter in a surprising decision, beating out former BYU and Kansas quarterback Jake Heaps for the spot. He won’t have an easy task in his first game, but reports have been glowing throughout camp.

Duke Johnson, RB, Miami: After averaging 6.81 yards per carry on 139 attempts for 10 touchdowns as a freshman in 2012, Johnson returned in 2013 to do more of the same. Through eight games, Johnson was just 27 yards behind his full 2012 total, averaging 6.34 yards per carry before an injury cut his season short.

A win for Louisville would help create a smooth transition into the Petrino 2.0 era and the ACC.

Miami will be looking for revenge, and a win here would help calm nerves of starting a true freshman quarterback.

For more on Louisville, head to Card Chronicle. For full coverage from Miami, check out State of the U.