2. Louisville wins the turnover battle
The team's surprise has easily been its defense to this point. The defensive line has consistently set the tone by applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks, forcing poor decision-making and leading to turnovers. Expect more of the same this week against the Hurricanes, led by star defensive end Clev Lubin. The defensive line's play and ability to generate pressure on Miami quarterback Carson Beck will be more critical than ever in disrupting the Hurricanes' offensive attack.
Louisville has won the turnover battle in three of its four wins (the outlier being Eastern Kentucky, of all teams). Each of these wins featured key takeaways during critical moments of the game that ultimately swung momentum to Louisville’s side. The Cardinals will need a similar performance from their defense (in particular, the linebacking corps and the secondary) to help level the playing field against the Hurricanes in Coral Gables. If Louisville can win the turnover battle this Friday, signs point to the Cardinals being well on their way to pulling off the upset.