Big Red Louie
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Predicting the remainder of Louisville football’s 2019 season

By Will Reddington

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 05: Monty Montgomery #7 of the Louisville Cardinals recovers a fumble in the game against the Boston College Eagles during the first quarter at Cardinal Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 05: Monty Montgomery #7 of the Louisville Cardinals recovers a fumble in the game against the Boston College Eagles during the first quarter at Cardinal Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 19: Shaquille Quarterman #55 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates with the turnover chain against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 19: Shaquille Quarterman #55 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates with the turnover chain against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Miami (FL)

ESPN FPI prediction: 32.9 percent chance

Miami is a team that has been disappointing this year on all counts. Clemson was a heavy favorite to win this conference. But when the season first started, Miami had the second-best odds to reign supreme in the ACC.

Things haven’t exactly gone that way. Miami is now 4-4, after coming off a huge win at Pittsburgh, the Canes now find themselves back in the bowl eligibility hunt.

Things could’ve been different for the Canes if they would’ve stolen that opening night victory against the Florida Gators. But they came up short and that’s been a consistent theme for them in games they’ve lost. They’ve experienced two back-breaking losses to a couple of the worst teams in the ACC and did so both at home. Virginia Tech and the abysmal Georgia Tech were both able to go into south beach and leave with a win.

Louisville will try to do the same, but it won’t be easy. Miami is a 3.5 underdog this weekend as they go to Florida State. So Louisville, coming off a bye, will absolutely be the more rested/healthy team. But after Miami plays FSU and UofL, they’ll host Florida International and then finish the season at Duke.

Miami has to win at least two of these games to salvage a bowl berth and that has to be the focus point for this team. They’ll be hungry on November 9th, but I trust Scott Satterfield here. While Miami has a top 15 defense nationally, what makes them vulnerable is the lack of an explosive offense. We saw Louisville already beat a Virginia team with a top 10 defense with explosive plays and I can’t see Miami’s offense behind quarterback Jarren Williams or N’Kosi Perry being able to outscore Louisville.

Coaching has been the biggest difference between last year’s Louisville team to this years. I think Satterfield having an extra week to prepare for Miami’s very simple offense will play to Louisville’s advantage. These two schools haven’t squared off since 2014, a game Louisville won 31-13. I think this one is much closer and low scoring, but the Cards reach bowl eligibility in week 11.

Louisville 24, Miami 20

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