Louisville comes out of its bye week with a chance to keep the momentum rolling at home, and the matchup on paper points in one direction. Stanford arrives at L&N Stadium at 4-4 and riding a two-game winning streak, but the numbers from its road trips and its losses paint a rough picture for Saturday’s 3:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
The Cardinal have been especially vulnerable away from home. In three road games, all losses, Stanford’s defense has given up an average of 50 points.
Across its four defeats, including the home loss to Miami, the offense has produced just 5.8 points per game. That’s the kind of profile that has Louisville’s staff expecting opportunities on both sides of the ball.
Michael McCammon sees a game where Louisville can attack in multiple ways. He expects the Cardinals to create explosive plays through the air and on the ground, while the defense gets after Stanford consistently in the backfield. In his view, Louisville should also be able to handle the 22.5-point spread.
Prediction: Louisville 44, Stanford 20
William McDermott framed the game as a chance for Louisville’s defense to reset after a shaky first seven weeks. He pointed to Stanford as one of the weakest offenses Louisville will face all year, noting that the Cardinal are the only ACC team averaging under 20 points per game.
He also highlighted Stanford’s struggles on the ground, saying that aside from last weekend against NC State, they have been one of the worst rushing teams in power-conference football. On the other side of the ball, Stanford’s ACC-worst 6.5 yards per play allowed should give Louisville’s offense plenty to work with.
Lilly Mitchell also expects Louisville to respond well after the bye. She noted Stanford’s 0-3 road record and said the defense has had trouble giving up big plays. Even with WR Lawayne McCoy out, she believes Tre Richardson and TreyShun Hurry can fill in effectively, and she pointed to Louisville’s back-to-back wins as a source of confidence.
Prediction: Louisville 41, Stanford 23
Jacob Polacheck went the other way, but not because he saw a clear Stanford edge. He admitted the rest of the group had all taken Louisville and said he wasn’t willing to tempt fate. With Louisville looking like it has found its footing, and with the Cardinals installed as a heavy favorite, he chose Stanford to spring the upset.
In Other News...
Jeff Brohm Left Louisville Fans With One Awkward Late Question
Stanfords 52-24 win over Louisville had already turned lopsided by the time the Cardinals started juggling the quarterback spot late, a move that only added to an otherwise messy finish. Louisville did manage a few bright spots, including Tayon Holloways fumble recovery touchdown and Isaac Browns big afternoon, which earned him Player of the Game honors after he piled up four scores and plenty of yardage.
Jeff Brohms late quarterback substitution briefly changed the look of the offense, but it did not last long after a fumble forced a quick reversal. The sequence capped a frustrating night for Louisville, which also saw Stanford throw a late interception on fourth down, leaving the Cardinals with one more awkward moment to sort through after the loss. [Read more 🡒]
Louisvilles Offense Looked Unstoppable And A Few Cardinals Led The Charge
Louisvilles offense kept rolling Saturday, and the Cardinals made sure Stanford had no answer once the game opened up. Behind a balanced attack, Louisville moved to 5-3 with a 52-24 victory that featured big days from Isaac Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and Tre Richardson, all of whom helped set the tone early and keep the pressure on throughout.
Brown powered the ground game with 139 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Kienholz accounted for 250 passing yards and three total touchdowns. Richardson added 140 receiving yards as Louisville took control in the second half and stretched its winning streak to three straight, a run that has given the offense some real momentum heading into the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Heads To Georgia Tech With New Momentum After Statement Win
Louisvilles trip to Georgia Tech comes with a little more bounce in its step after a convincing 52-24 win over Stanford at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. The Cardinals moved to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in ACC play, and the performance had the kind of balance coaches like to see: Lincoln Kienholz threw for 250 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, while Isaac Brown powered the ground game with 139 rushing yards and four total touchdowns.
The defense did its part, too, shutting Stanford out in the fourth quarter and making the kind of timely plays that kept the game from tightening up. For Louisville, the bigger takeaway is what the win might mean heading into a tougher road test, with the Cardinals carrying real momentum and a clearer sense of who they can be when both sides of the ball are working together. [Read more 🡒]