The Boston College Eagles and Louisville Cardinals will go at it on the turf at Cardinal Stadium. CHSS is scheduled to have the TV rights and this key ACC showdown gets underway at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Louisville Cardinals vs. Boston College Eagles
The Eagles approach this Saturday ACC game as the underdog and they’re currently getting 4 points. The Eagles are also receiving +165 moneyline odds while the Cardinals are -185. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 61 points, and if one side can create a bunch of points early, it will probably lead to a reasonable in-game betting opportunity.
This game’s line opened at -5. The total hasn’t moved after it was set initially at 61.
The hapless Eagles have lost 15.3 units so far and are 3-2 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-2.
The Cardinals are down 1.0 unit this season. The team is 3-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-3.
The Eagles have gone 3-2 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against ACC opponents. The Cardinals are 2-2 SU overall and are also 0-1 SU in conference play.
These two squads met last year with the final outcome being a 38-20 win for Boston College.
The Eagles fell to Wake Forest 27-24 in a game where the passing game left much to be desired as Anthony Brown completed 21 passes on 29 attempts for 265 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. AJ Dillon (159 yards on 23 rush attempts) led the ground attack while Kobay White (four receptions, 33 yards) and Bailey (four catches, 33 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back on September 21, Florida State got the victory against this Louisville team by a score of 35-24. The Cards defensive unit allowed the Seminoles to pass for 382 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 140 yards and three scores. Cam Akers had a productive outing in the win, recording 112 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 29 attempts for Florida State. For Louisville, Malik Cunningham completed 16-of-27 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Cunningham (5 rushing yards on 17 attempts, one TD) and Javian Hawkins (52 yards on 17 carries) spearheaded the running game while Dez Fitzpatrick (seven receptions, 133 yards, one TD) and Chatarius Atwell (five catches, 69 yards, one TD) led all Louisville pass-catchers in the loss.
Boston College has run the ball on 63.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Louisville has an overall rush percentage of 66.2 percent. The Eagles have produced 252 rush yards per game (including 204.5 per game versus Atlantic Coast opponents) and have 11 scores on the ground this year. The Cards are averaging 225.3 rush yards per game and have six total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Eagles may be the more disruptive team in the trenches. Their offensive line has given up just 23 sacks while their D-line registered 33 sacks. The Cardinals O-line has allowed 43 sacks and their defense has forced only 11 sacks.
The Eagles offense has averaged 221.2 yards in the air overall (278 per game against conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Cards have produced 212.3 pass yards per game and have nine total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Boston College has allowed 183 rush yards and 255.6 pass yards per game. The Louisville D has allowed 215.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 135.8 yards per game on the ground. The Eagles are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.46 to opposing QBs, while the Cards have allowed a 6.96 ANY/A.
Cunningham has completed 17-of-28 passes for 310 yards, two TDs and one INT for Louisville. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 8.18 for the year and 8.10 over his last two games. In the other huddle, Brown is up to 898 passing yards this year, and has connected on 62-of-105 attempts with eight passing touchdowns and only two interceptions. Brown’s got an 8.93 ANY/A for the year, although that number sits at 6.93 over the last two games.
Boston College Eagles vs. Louisville Cardinals Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Louisville, ATS Winner: Louisville, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Louisville D has notched more than twice the sack total of Boston College this year (11 to five).
- Louisville has lost five fumbles in 2019 while Boston College has let one get away.
- Each offense has recorded seven pass plays of 30+ yards.
- The Boston College defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Louisville has given up three such plays.
- The Boston College offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Louisville has created eight such runs.
- The Eagles defense has allowed eight rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cardinals have given up three such runs.
- The Over/Under for Louisville’s previous matchup was set at 61. The under cashed in the team’s 35-24 loss to Florida State.
- In its last three games, Louisville is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three matchups, Boston College is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Boston College’s last game going into it was 69. The under cashed in the team’s 27-24 loss to Wake Forest.
- As a team, Boston College has produced 5.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.0 over its last two.
- Louisville has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.4 over its past two.
