Louisville football: Predicting the remainder of the 2019 schedule
Chances for season-defining wins –
at No. 19 Wake Forest
October 12th
Louisville’s next opponent, Wake Forest, provides the most interesting challenge the Cards have faced yet.
After pegging this game as a chance for a win for the Cards in the offseason, I am thoroughly surprised to see Wake right in the thick of things in the ACC race sitting at 5-0.
What has made Wake so special early on is its prolific passing offense. The Decons have been special going up top to their big-time wide receivers Sage Surratt and Scotty Washington, who are setting the world on fire as jump-ball receivers.
Quarterback Jamie Newman (15 TD, 3 INT) is effective with his arm and his legs, and poses a serious threat to the Louisville defense when he can throw up multiple long balls a game and know his receivers are probably going to come down with it.
Wake doesn’t mind getting into a shootout, which may be the only way Louisville is able to pull out this game.
If the Cardinals can show marked improvement in the secondary and continue their prolific ground game, maybe they can stay in this one. Otherwise, they will have to wait another week to snag the first ranked win under Scott Satterfield.
ESPN FPI: 30.6% chance to win
BRL prediction: Louisville 28, Wake Forest 38
No. 20 Virginia
October 26th
Clemson is the heavy favorite to win the ACC for good reason, but they may collide with Virginia in the ACC championship game and have their hands full.
UVA brought back nearly all of its important contributors from a year ago and has one of the better defenses in the league.
They already have two common opponents with the Cards in Notre Dame and Florida State, and their performances against those two squads looked very similar to Louisville’s match-ups with those teams. The Cavaliers pulled off a last-second victory at home against FSU and pushed Notre Dame late but ultimately fell 35-20.
Quarterback Bryce Perkins– the player who lept over a Cardinal last season- is back in the saddle and he has improved upon a solid 2018.
Louisville has a good chance to steal one against Virginia, but much like the NC State game, the Cards will have to establish the run and force a turnover or two to come away victorious.
This will be the third of three straight games against the three best teams in the ACC (all of which are ranked opponents).
If the Cards don’t steal one at Wake Forest, I really like their chances to find a way to win an ugly one against the Wahoos at home.