Louisville football: Final thoughts & staff predictions for Music City Bowl

With just a few hours before kick-off of the Music City Bowl, our team gives their final predictions and thoughts for Louisville football against Mississippi State.

I recall there being very few people over summer who actually believed that Louisville football could win more than five games this past season, one of whom is writing this article (weird flex, but anything to make me feel better after Saturday).

Originally, I submitted my pre-season prediction for the Cards with a 7-6 record including a bowl win to top it off.

I hope I’m wrong in the best way possible.

If I’m trying to brag about predicting a 7-6 turnaround season, I can only imagine the one or two fans that truly believed the Cards were capable of eight victories in Satterfield’s first season.

But here we are – even after an abysmal performance against in-state rival UK, Louisville has a chance at a phenomenal turnaround in year one, which would significantly put the Cards ahead of schedule in rebuilding the program.

The news leading up to the Cardinals matchup against Mississippi State today has been nothing short of dramatic, as multiple players on MSU’s squad have announced their intention to forgo the bowl in hopes of preserving or improving their draft stock.

Hell, they even have players that are taking each other out of bowl game participation via blackeye.

That last headline was a first for me, especially when you consider it was a starting QB.

With the only significant news on Louisville’s end being the predicted absence of left tackle Mehki Becton, I believe the Cards have a real shot to keep Satterfield’s career bowl record pristine.

It should make every UL fan at least a little nervous that we are playing the same program who HANDLED Louisville while having most of their staff and starting QB absent – and that was with current NFL MVP favorite Lamar Jackson on the field.

However – these programs are much different than when they last faced off, and I believe the Cards get revenge.

Louisville has the opportunity to really light up the scoreboard today against a very mediocre MSU defense, as they have been prone to giving up big plays – a specialty for Louisville this year.

The big key to the Cards success today will be on how successful the defense contains MSU’s run game, as their RB1 has been the focal point of their offense.

They don’t create big plays, they don’t pass the ball particularly well – so stopping the run is the main objective, with limiting any big-play potential as the other goal.

Louisville should get theirs on offense, but its time for the defense to end on a high note and gain positive momentum going into the offseason.

I’m going 41-28 Louisville, with the Cards finishing 2019 off with a W and an 8-5 record. What says other members of the BRL team?

Alan Thomas –

It should be gorgeous weather for football down in Nashville. I fully expect a shootout, so don’t be surprised when both defenses give up a bajillion yards tomorrow.

Louisville will be able to get it done with their running game, but I think the x-factor is going to be how intricate Micale Cunningham can be with the ball in his hands.

I don’t think Mississippi State has seen a dynamic QB quite like him this year, and this season they have struggled with balanced offensive attacks, especially on the ground, which is where Cunningham can be sneakily effective.

Score: Cards 38, Dawgs 35

MVP: Micale Cunningham

Jacob Lane –

The fact that Louisville football even finds themselves in a bowl game one year removed from the disastrous 2-10 season is a huge feat in itself, but having a legitimate chance to get to eight wins and skip a few years in the rebuilding is something we’re talking about now thanks to Scott Satterfield.

Louisville goes into the Music City Bowl coming off of a terrible ending to the season, and they have every intention of “getting the bad taste of their mouth.” They’ll look to do so against a team who seems to have no desire in the world to play this game, even going as far as decking each other in order to miss the game.

Half of the battle with bowl games is who wants to be there more.. For me and probably everyone else around the country, it’s easy to see that the Cards want to be in the Music City Bowl and have every intention to win.

Stopping Mississippi State’s top 20 ranked rushing attack will be a major challenge, considering the 570-plus yards they gave up this time last month. However, with nearly a full month to decompress physically and mentally, I think you see a fast, hungry defense flying around the field.

Behind a big day from Javian Hawkins on the ground and another multi-touchdown performance from Micale Cunningham, the Cards pull out another victory and put the 2019 season in the rearview with all eyes on getting better in 2020.

Score: Louisville 38, Mississippi State 31

MVP: Javian Hawkins

Go Cards.