This is how I voted in the Big East’s football media poll. The entire media poll will be revealed by the league on July 29.

No. 6 LOUISVILLE

UL instant analysis: Bobby Petrino, ancient history. Brian Brohm, gone. And if you check out “fun with numbers” below, you’ll see it’s been a revolving door lately in the ‘Ville. What’s left in Louisville? Thirteen returning starters from last year’s snake-bit 6-6 team. If UConn was the nation’s luckiest team last year – Louisville was one of the unluckiest in Coach Steve Kragthorpe’s debut season. A blown coverage in the last minute against Kentucky and a blown official’s call against UConn cost the Cards two wins and a bowl berth. This year, senior QB Hunter Cantwell should be an adequate replacement for Brohm. And – believe it or not – the defense could actually be a strong point with former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English taking over for Mike Cassity, who was fired after last season. Louisville lost too much to immediately return to the success of the Petrino years, but the Cardinals should have enough talent to get back to a bowl game.

Fun with numbers: This one is courtesy of the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Brian Bennett: Since the spring of 2007, the Cardinals have had 21 scholarship players leave the program. That’s mind-boggling. Next year, the Cardinals might have the first single-digit APR in NCAA history.

If I could attend one UL game this season it would be: UL at Memphis, Oct. 10. I could certainly stomach this former C-USA rivalry only if it included stopping by Rendezvous or Corky’s for some pre-game BBQ and then afterward hitting the North End for some legendary hot fudge pie and a cold beer.

Why I picked UL No. 6? The Cards all but folded after early losses to Kentucky, Syracuse and Utah. This year, the Cards open with four winnable home games and play six of their first seven at Papa John’s Stadium. If Louisville can get off to a fast start and gain some early season momentum, it should be prepared for a tough final four-game stretch of Pittsburgh (away), Cincinnati (home), West Virginia (home) and Rutgers (away).

UL will finish better than 6th if: the Cards take advantage of four home Big East games and Cantwell turns out to be as nearly as good as Brohm. Also, the much-maligned defense – which allowed at least 38 points in seven games last year – does a 180 under English.

UL will finish worse than 6th if: there is a huge drop off offensively and no improvement defensively. Both, of which, are very real possibilities.

This is how I voted in the Big East’s media poll.

6. Louisville
7. UConn
8. Syracuse

Coming Monday: No. 5