Louisville is riding into Week 7 with real momentum after a 44-20 Friday win over Florida State pushed the Cardinals to 3-3. Now comes another road test, and Jeff Brohm’s team will try to make it two straight when it visits Syracuse with a chance to move to 4-3.
This matchup has leaned Louisville’s way over time. The Cardinals have met Syracuse 21 times and own a 13-8 edge in the series.
They’ve also taken seven of the last 10 meetings and hold a 6-2 conference mark against the Orange. But the most recent chapter went the other direction - Syracuse rolled to a 31-7 win the last time these teams played, and Louisville will be looking to flip that result this weekend.
The market likes the Cardinals to do exactly that. As of Monday, October 12, Louisville is a 13.5-point favorite at FanDuel, with the total set at 55.5.
The moneyline has Louisville at -675 and Syracuse at +490. ESPN Analytics gives the Cardinals a 75.9 percent shot to win.
Spread: Louisville -13.5
Over/Under: 55.5
Moneyline: Louisville -675 Syracuse +490
The expectation here is that Louisville leans on the ground game again after what it showed against Florida State. Isaac Brown looked like a problem last week, and Syracuse has been allowing 144 rushing yards per game. That sets up another big day for the Cardinals’ run attack, with Louisville projected to top 200 rushing yards for the second straight game.
Still, there’s a belief Syracuse can stay inside the number. The Orange have been competitive in several of their games this year, falling by 14 to Pitt and by three to both Cal and Virginia. Offensively, they have playmakers in Tylik Hill and Umari Hatcher, and those pieces could create issues if Louisville’s defense gives up too many plays down the field.
The key matchup may be Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli and Louisville’s ability to force mistakes. Angeli already has five interceptions this season, and a takeaway there could swing the game quickly. The expectation is that Louisville scores first, controls the tempo early, and then pulls away after halftime, just like it did last week.
In Other News...
Jeff Brohms Syracuse Update Leaves Louisville Waiting On Two Key Issues
Jeff Brohm used his latest Syracuse update to clear up a bit of the Cardinals weekly structure on one side of the ball, confirming that Brian Brohm will keep handling the game-day playcalling on offense. On defense, assistants Mike Cassity and David Elson will continue working alongside coordinator Mark Ivey as Louisville gets ready for a Saturday night trip to Syracuse on the ACC Network.
The bigger question for the Cardinals is on the injury front, where the staff is still monitoring running back Keyjuan Brown and offensive lineman Anwar Oneal. Both are important pieces as Louisville tries to line up its rotation and protection plan for a late kickoff, and the final availability call could shape how the Cardinals approach one of the more important road tests on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Raised The Stakes In Louisvilles Recruiting Battle
The recruiting tug-of-war around Louisvilles own backyard is already getting attention this fall, and JaHyde Brown has become one of the names to watch. The four-star Louisville commit had lined up multiple visits, but one of those trips has now come off the board after he canceled plans to visit Kentucky, keeping the Cardinals in the middle of a battle that still has plenty of moving parts.
Brown is not the only local prospect drawing interest either. Allen Evans, another highly ranked four-star Louisville native who once committed to the Cardinals before flipping to Vanderbilt, recently spent time at Kentucky and still has more trips ahead to Ole Miss and Auburn. For Louisville, the bigger picture is clear: the Cats are pushing hard in a recruiting lane the Cardinals usually want to control, and the next few weeks should say plenty about how firm those local ties really are. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Just Gave Jeff Brohm A Real ACC Opening
Louisvilles win over Florida State did more than even the Cardinals record at 3-3. It also kept Jeff Brohms team within striking distance in a conference race that still feels wide open, and the way it happened mattered just as much as the result. A goal-line stand set the tone, Isaac Brown ripped off a 97-yard touchdown run, and Louisville turned a tense ACC night into a 44-20 statement.
As the league heads into Week 7, the updated ACC Power Rankings reflect just how much movement there still is across the conference. For Louisville, the opportunity is obvious now: the path is there if the Cardinals can stack more performances like this one, but the margin for error remains thin in a race where one good week can change the picture fast. [Read more 🡒]