The Cardinals of Louisville (+3.5) are gearing up to welcome their ACC rival Virginia Cavaliers (-3.5) to Cardinal Stadium. ACC Network will broadcast the action and this vital afternoon game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Louisville Cardinals vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Louisville is playing the role of underdog and is currently getting 3.5 points in this Saturday ACC game. The Cavaliers are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Cardinals are +155. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 55 points. It appears that there should be multiple good live betting possibilities while this game’s taking place.
The line opened at 3. The game’s O/U hasn’t changed since it opened at 55.
The Cavaliers are 3-3-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 1.0 unit so far in 2019. The team has posted an O/U record of 4-3.
The Cardinals have gained 2.2 units this season. The team is 4-3 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-4.
The Cavaliers are 5-2 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against ACC opponents. The Cardinals are 4-3 SU overall and 2-2 SU in conference play.
The Cavaliers are coming off a resounding 48-14 win over Duke last weekTheir defense allowed the Blue Devils to rush for 132 yards on 41 attempts. Scott Bracey had a good day for the Blue Devils in that one with 43 yards and a score on two catches. On the offensive side of the ball, Bryce Perkins completed just 13 passes on 26 attempts for 141 yards and one interception. Perkins (62 rushing yards on 22 attempts, three TDs) also spearheaded the ground attack in the win and was complemented by Wayne Taulapapa (77 yards on 14 carries, two TDs). Joe Reed (five receptions, 45 yards) and Hasise Dubois (four catches, 62 yards) handled the receiving duties.
One week ago, Clemson got the win against this Louisville crew by a score of 45-10. The Cards defense allowed the Tigers to eat up the clock by running for 298 yards on 37 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Travis Etienne was outstandingfor the Tigers, putting up 192 rushing yards and a score on 14 attempts. As a group, the Cards collectively completed eight-of-22 passes for 107 yards and two interceptions. Malik Cunningham went four-for-11 for 63 yards and one interception while Evan Conley was four-of-11 for 44 yards and one interception. Javian Hawkins (129 rushing yards on 26 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat as Dez Fitzpatrick (three receptions, 63 yards) and Chatarius Atwell (three catches, 37 yards) led the receiving corps.
Virginia has run the ball on 48.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Louisville has an overall rush percentage of 64.3 percent. The Cavaliers have produced 109.4 rush yards per game (including 119.3 per game against Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 14 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Cards are putting up 216.9 rush yards per game (185.3 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Wahoos offense has averaged 239.6 yards in the air overall (218.3 per game against conference opposition) and has eight passing TDs so far. The Cards have recorded 239.9 pass yards per contest (279 in the ACC) and have 15 total pass scores.
Defensively, Virginia seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 96 yards and pass for 174.3 yards per game. The Louisville defense has given up 263.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 192.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Wahoos are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.13 to opposing QBs, while the Cards have given up a 7.39 ANY/A.
Conley has connected on 16-of-30 passes for 270 yards, two TDs and one INT. Conley’s adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 6.94 for the year and 4.62 over his last two games. In the other locker room, Perkins is up to 1,318 passing yards this season. He’s completed 124-of-193 attempts with eight passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. Perkins has a 5.00 ANY/A, including 4.07 over the last two games.
When these two teams met last year, Virginia knocked Louisville off soundly 27-3.
Virginia Cavaliers at Louisville Cardinals Free Pick
SU Winner: Louisville, ATS Winner: Louisville, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Virginia D has twice as many sacks as Louisville this year (28 versus 14).
- The Louisville offense has lost seven fumbles in 2019 while the Virginia offense has let five get away.
- The Cavaliers offense has created three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Cardinals have put up 10 such plays.
- The Virginia defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Louisville has given up seven such plays.
- The Virginia offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Louisville has created 16 such runs.
- The Cavaliers defense has allowed four rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cardinals have given up 11 such runs.
- The O/U for Louisville’s last matchup was set at 61.5. The under cashed in that 45-10 loss to Clemson.
- In its last three contests, Louisville is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three matchups, Virginia is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Virginia’s previous game was 44. The over cashed in the team’s 48-14 triumph over Duke.
- Virginia has produced 2.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.2 over its last two.
- Louisville has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.4 over its past two.
