Louisville Football: Big Red Louie’s Game Predictions vs. Alabama

Today’s the day! After what seems like years, Louisville will take the field in Orlando against the #1 team in the country, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Your grills are out, jerseys are washed, and your drink of choice is poured. You may have less fingernails than you started the day with, but in the end it will all be worth it. At 8:00 PM Louisville football will get out on the gridiron for their head-to-head matchup with the Crimson Tide after three years of anticipation.

The Tide are the clear cut favorites, with the spread currently sitting at around 25ish points. Can the Cards cover? Hell, can the Cards do the unthinkable and knock off college football’s powerhouse?

We’ll soon find out.

We polled eight of our writers, asking for a key to the game and a score prediction.

Good Time Charlie

Cardinals have to stop Bama’s run game. Make them throw the ball and open it up to more turnover possibilities. Pass has to stay poised on the big stage. I predict a good time with a Louisville victory.

Prediction: Louisville 34, Alabama 28.

Presley Meyer

First games are always full of shaky moments. This young Cards squad is coming into the season outmatched talent and depth-wise, but they can make up for that by playing sound fundamentally.

The Cards MUST win the turnover battle, and they must win on special teams with kicker Blanton Creque and punter Mason King to have a chance. If they can do the small things well, maintain good field position throughout the game, they will be in it until the end.

If Louisville loses the turnover battle or struggles on special teams, you can forget about an upset. In the end, I think the Tide are just too much to handle but the Cards will make Bama sweat.

Prediction: Alabama 37, Louisville 31

Thomas Grasch

The key to this game hinges on the defense’s ability to make some stops and create turnovers. Is that possible? Sure, but I don’t think it is likely. The offense should be more balanced and I think they can score early. My prediction – Cards keep it close in the first half but the defending National Champions pull away in the end.

Prediction: Louisville 24, Alabama 41

Craig Erickson

The key to the game will be if the Louisville offensive Line can give Puma Pass enough time to do his thing in the pocket. I believe Fitzpatrick when he says the Louisville receivers can beat the Crimson Tide DB’s, Pass just needs a clean pocket. The passing game needs to be on point for Louisville to have a chance, the running game will be little to nothing against the Alabama defense. I do think that Louisville’s O-Line can handle the task but it won’t be easy.

Prediction : Louisville 27, Alabama 34

Ross Prophater

The keys to this game for me are simple. Can Louisville’s offensive and defensive lines execute against the respected lines of the Crimson Tide? UofL’s offensive line needs to create running lanes for the Louisville running backs and in pass protection keep Puma clean and off of his back.  He has to have time to see the field and progress through his reads.

On defense, the Cardinals defensive line must control the line of scrimmage and knock the talented offensive line of the Crimson Tide off their mark. They must create pressure and get to Tua Tagovailoa and/or Jalen Hurts and not allow them time to sit in the pocket to pick apart the UofL defense.

Prediction: Louisville 38, Alabama 31

Jacob Lane

I have a strange feeling about this game, and I’m not sure why. I think Louisville is going to come out extremely aggressive, as against Alabama you have to go big instead of playing conservative. If Louisville can limit the run game (so much easier said than done) and put pressure on Tua, than I think they will be fine.

On offense it all comes down to the offensive line. We know that establishing a run game against Bama is near impossible, and though I expect Bobby to try to run some half back tosses with Javian Hawkins and Hassan Hall, to utilize their unique speed, I don’t think they get much going. If Puma can have time to throw, I really believe he can pick apart the back half of the Alabama secondary. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Troy Brown, and Anthony Averett are gone. There is still a lot of talent back there, but Louisville has a big advantage there.

Unfortunately Alabama is just too big and strong. Louisville will hang for a half, but Bama pulls away.

Prediction: Louisville 24, Alabama 42 

Tanner Hickman

For Louisville to be competitive in this game, the Cards must win most of their one on one match ups. The receivers are going to have to put the Alabama secondary in a bind by getting by the defensive backs and then isolating the safeties and forcing them to make a decision. As crazy as it sounds the Cards must take some deep shots downfield to accomplish this, but as always it starts with the line providing enough time for the quarterback and receivers to get open.

As far as the defense is concerned they need to get pressure on the Quarterback and tackle as a unit. Alabama’s playmakers are too big and talented to go for highlight one on one tackling, therefore they must get one person on the ball and have the rest of the defense fly to the ball shortly after.

Prediction: Louisville 24, Alabama 42

Ethan Sprowles (The Villens)

If Louisville is gonna pull off the impossible and beat Alabama it’s gonna come down to two things: Converting on the deep ball, and causing turnovers on defense. Alabama has a weakness, and it’s their secondary. If there’s a recipe for beating them, it’s those two things.

In the 1st quarter, I think the Cards will strike first. Jawon Pass will come out slinging the ball down the field and Alabama will be caught off guard. The Louisville defense causes a turnover and the Cards are in business. That’s gonna be the key. Believe, and come out punching Alabama in the mouth. If Louisville can do those things, I think Louisville will hold off a furious comeback in the second half and defeat the Crimson Tide in classic finish. I think (and hope) Bobby has something special brewing.

Prediction: Louisville 34, Alabama 27

See you tonight at 8 folks, Go Cards!