Big Red Louie
Fansided

Ranking Louisville football’s 2020 schedule by match-up intrigue

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 26: Javian Hawkins #10 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers on October 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - OCTOBER 26: Javian Hawkins #10 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers on October 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
louisville football, uofl football, scott satterfield, louisville football quarterback
LOUISVILLE, KY – SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Malik Cunningham #3 of the Louisville Cardinals jukes past a defender during the third quarter of the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Cardinal Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

11. Western Kentucky

September 26th

I get married on this day, and I’m pretending this game doesn’t exist for the sake of my sanity.

However, when Jacob is mouthing me score updates during the wedding, I fully expect them to be closer than one would think.

After hanging with the Cards for a half in Nashville in 2019, Western went on to win eight out of their last ten games to finish the season 9-3.

Head coach Tyson Helton loses some important pieces, but this is Western’s biggest game of the year and Helton will be looking to prove last season’s turn around was not a fluke. The young up-and-coming coach is certain to be a hot name on the coaching market in 2021.

10. at Boston College

October 19th

It seems like Louisville always catches Boston College right at the time of year when the weather is starting to turn and the Cards are going to be forced to play some grown man football.

I lamented the fact that the Cards caught the Eagles on the same weekend two years ago, and here we go again. The first quarter of the season in Louisville and Clemson (and inside at Syracuse) will feature games in steamy weather.

This will be the first “fall” weather game of the season…. BUT that’s really the only reason I’d be worried.

Boston College loses nearly every contributor that gave the Cards fits over the last three years, and head coach Steve Addazio got the boot in favor of first-time head coach Jeff Hafley.

While Hafley made out okay with a quickly-assembled 2020 recruiting class, it may be 2-3 years before BC gets back to where they were in 2018.

So while the second game of a northeastern road trip is never fun, the blow is softened by a lack of proven players on both sides of the ball. This is a game in which the Cardinals should take care of business if they hope to take another step forward in 2020.

9. at Syracuse

October 3rd

Dino Babers and the Orange were massively underwhelming in 2019 after starting off the season in the top 25.

Syracuse will look to bounce back in 2020, and there’s potential to do so.

The Orange were riddled with injuries on both sides of the ball last season, and their offensive line was just bad. Like 2017 Louisville bad.

To help ease the sting of a poor season, Babers replaced both his offensive and defensive coordinators, and he will get another shot with veteran quarterback Tommy DeVito.

The real question mark is still Cuse’s defense in 2020. The Orange loses almost all of its key contributors from an impressive pass rush upfront, and only return Andre Cisco, who will likely be an All-ACC safety in the preseason.

Road games are never easy in a power five conference, but Louisville dropped 50 on Syracuse in three quarters this season, and the Cardinals should only improve on that fast Carrier Dome turf.

There are plenty of question marks on Louisville’s defense entering this season, but the last thing Syracuse wants is a shoot out, and it feels like that is what the Cardinals will bring.

There are no guarantees, but this feels like one of Louisville’s easier conference wins.

Home/Louisville Football