HOUSTON -- The carnage that Louisville needed to make inroads in the College Football Playoff picture unfolded during this past chaotic weekend. Suddenly, the ball is in the Cardinals court with an opportunity to hold serve.With three of the top four teams in the CFP rankings falling on Saturday -- Clemson, Michigan and Washington, with the Tigers and Wolverines losing to unranked teams -- the door swung open for the Cardinals to secure a coveted spot in the national semifinals. Louisville, which is 9-1 and ranked No. 3 in this weeks Associated Press poll, needed a 34-point fourth quarter to subdue stubborn Wake Forest, but in doing so secured its highest ranking ever.And now, with two games remaining in their regular season, including a critical Thursday night showdown against Houston (8-2) at Houstons TDECU Stadium, the Cardinals have a viable path to a national championship. Well, at least one less treacherous than the road that faced Louisville following its 42-36 loss at Clemson on Oct. 1.For our players they just have to understand that we need to go out and play well and play the type of football that were capable of playing, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. Really thats what we need to do our last two games. Whatever happens happens; we cant control any of that. Weve just got to go play the way were capable of playing.Obviously we know its on national TV; nobody else is playing. Everybody will be watching it. But those are the types of games we like, something thats fun as a team, something that weve always felt has helped us in recruiting. And we are used to playing midweek games.The Cardinals will play their fourth non-Saturday game this week. Managing a schedule that undermines the routine of weekly preparation requires both mental and physical flexibility, but at this stage of the season Louisville has endured the drama and sidestepped the pitfalls that befell Clemson, Michigan and Washington.Following the loss to Clemson and prior to their rally against the Demon Deacons, the Cardinals survived close calls against Duke and Virginia. Against lesser foes their defense has thrived, but when challenged by elite offenses Louisville has wavered. Quarterback Lamar Jackson remains a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, yet against Wake Forest he mustered just one touchdown, and that came with 4:05 left to play.Dynamic Houston senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. is a handful under normal circumstances. Having to prepare for the Cougars high-scoring offense on a short week only ramps up the potential for Louisville to stumble like so many others have.Weve had full steam ahead for this game, Petrino said. We play 7 oclock on a Saturday night then again on Thursday, thats a short turnaround for our players and our coaches. It required us to do some work last week on Houston.Usually on Fridays I get to let our coaches take their kids to school and then come in here later on Friday morning. This week we were in the office at 7 a.m. working on Houston. Usually they get to spend some time Saturday morning. We were up at 7 oclock Saturday morning working on Houston. We had to adjust schedules. Probably dont know a whole lot whats going on in the world besides getting ready for the Houston game.Following a 5-0 start and their climb to No. 6 in the national polls, Houston started eying the Louisville game for its potential to thrust the Cougars into the CFP conversation. But Houston followed with a three-game lull that not only snuffed those hopes, but also put in peril a shot to win an American Athletic Conference title.Houston followed a road loss to Navy with a white-knuckle home win over Tulsa and a shocking defeat against middling SMU. Given those setbacks, the Cougars lack the sizzle they had prior to Navy stunning them and sending their season into a tailspin.That fact doesnt mean the Cougars arent relishing the opportunity ahead.This is extra anticipation and extra excitement knowing whos coming into town, theres no hiding from that, Cougars coach Tom Herman said. But, at the same time, its business as usual. The way we prepare is not going to change. The way we go about our business minute-to-minute and day-by-day, from a preparation standpoint is business as usual. I think our guys are excited to go against a top five team such as Louisville.Discount NFL Shirts . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Cheap Authentic Shirts . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. http://www.cheapshirtsfromchina.com/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Wholesale Shirts . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Cheap Shirts For Sale . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge.Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor faces a nervous wait after being charged with violent conduct during his teams 3-1 loss to Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Friday night.Amor was banished to the stands after touching a fourth official while protesting Andy Keoghs controversial 67th-minute goal.Keogh scored after Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was bundled over in a heavy collision with Glory captain Rostyn Griffiths.Amor was left fuming when Galekovic, who had gotten both hands to the ball before being knocked over, wasnt awarded a free-kick.The United coach made his displeasure known, and grabbed fourth official Adam Fielding by the arm in a bid to get his attention.Although the contact wasnt malicious, it was enough to convince referee Jarred Gillett to give Amor his marching orders.Amor will now have to serve an automatic one-match sideline ban, and the independent match review panel could dish out further penalties.After the game, Amor defended his actions.My problem is the language, Amor said.When you dont speak good, some language, normally you use the hands, and the movement. And this is normal.With the players sometimes its the same. Normal action. I always respect the referees, his job. I know its sometimes difficult, because deciding in one second.Glory coach Kenny Lowe, who recently served his own sidelline ban for abusing a referee, said he understood why Amor would be so upset at the goal.ddddddddddddIf I was in his position, Id be screaming blue murder, Lowe said.Look, hes a classy guy.He normally sits there not very animated. but he was very animated today, and he looked upset.Adelaide sit dead last on the table with just two points to show from the first seven rounds.Their title-winning feats of last season are now a distant memory, and they face another daunting challenge next week when they take on ladder-leading Sydney at Allianz Stadium.Adelaide will be without Jordan ODoherty after the midfielder was sent off against Glory for two bookable offences, while striker Sergio Guardiola will be monitored after he limped off in the 57th minute with a leg injury.And lacopo La Rocca faces an anxious wait to see if his head-high elbow on Keogh gets punished.Keogh was left with a bloodied mouth after the tangle, and it didnt go unnoticed by Lowe.If you actually look at it, youd see it was a little bit naughty, Lowe said.I think it spoilt Keoghs good looks. His modelling career is out the window.Keogh scored two goals for the game, with the victory ending Perths three-match winless run. ' ' '