LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Louisville has shown it can start fast and win with late-game heroics.

The No. 16 Cardinals (7-0, 2-0 Big East Conference) now want to eliminate all those mid-game letdowns in between.

That has been difficult for Louisville, which has found ways to remain undefeated. But there's no room for error Friday night against Cincinnati (5-1, 1-0), which enters with the league's best offense and a four-game winning streak against Louisville.

The winner keeps pace with undefeated, first-place Rutgers in the Big East and claims bragging rights that come with the Keg of Nails trophy.

Louisville senior linebacker Preston Brown, a Cincinnati native, says the rivalry "feels bigger now because we're both undefeated in the conference."