1. The Cardinals must start hot
Louisville football must start the game hot. They have had slow starts this season, and Virginia has been the complete opposite. They have scored 28 or more points in the first half three times this season, and the Cardinals can not keep expecting to come back every game. Eventually, their luck will run out, and it may be this weekend if they start slow again. The first half could tell the whole story of this game.
If they want to achieve their goals this season, they will have to start fast this weekend and pull off the upset against the Cavaliers. Louisville's first quarter has been awful against quality opponents, as the Cardinals were scoreless against both Pitt and James Madison.
The results of the first half will be a huge key in this ACC showdown, and the fans have been screaming this all week. If Louisville football pulls a win out, their path to Charlotte gets a whole lot clearer. A loss could derail their path and send them into a hostile Miami crowd with a loss on their record.
Related: Pat McAfee fires up Louisville and Virginia fans after Cardinals' stunning comeback
Louisville and Virginia will kick off next Saturday, October 4, from L&N Stadium at 3:30 p.m. local time.