It is gameday in Louisville for the first time in 2026, as Jeff Brohm and his Cardinals play their first official home game of the season. The Cardinals are hungry for that first win of the season as they are coming off a heartbreaking loss in Week 1.
Louisville took Ole Miss to the final seconds of the game, where the Cardinals lost 41-38 after a game-winning 48-yard field goal. Louisville showed a lot of toughness and potential in their Week 1 loss, which is why they didn’t move in the AP Polls, and they are ranked No. 24 in the nation in Week 2, despite being 0-1.
Louisville will now face the Villanova Wildcats Friday night, and the Cardinals are the heavy favorites. So, with it being game day at L&N Stadium, let's break down the final odds for this Friday night showdown and make some predictions.
Betting odds for Louisville vs. Villanova
Odds courtesy of FanDuel, and as of 6am ET on Friday, September 10th.
Spread: Louisville -36.5
Over/Under: 56.5
Moneyline: Louisville -10000
Big Red Louie Predictions
This one should be all Louisville. The Cardinals showed in Week 1 that they can hang with the best, and now they just need to go out and get their first win of the season. Lincoln Kienholz proved last week that he is a playmaker on the field with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, and now the Cardinals need the whole offense to come together.
Expect the running back game to really show out this game, especially Isaac Brown. The star back had 16 carries for just 36 yards in Week 1, and with Louisville playing SMU in Week 3, it is crucial to get him going tonight.
As for the defense, Louisville's front seven will be too physical and too fast for the Cats' offensive line and should dominate the trenches. This should also be a game where the secondary really steps up and gains some confidence before that SMU game and completely shuts down this Wildcats' offense.
The Cardinals will be too explosive and too physical for this Wildcats team to keep up with on Friday night. Expect Louisville to bounce back from their Week 1 loss with a major win and cover the 36.5.
Prediction: Louisville 51 Villanova 13
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