The Virginia Cavaliers head into Louisville this Saturday with momentum from their stunning upset over Florida State, but the Cardinals' perfect record presents a formidable challenge. At 4-1, Virginia sits at No. 24 in the rankings, riding high after that 46-38 double-overtime thriller that exposed cracks in top-tier defenses. Yet, against a 4-0 Louisville squad hungry for their first ACC win of the season, the Hoos might find the going tougher than expected.
Louisville's home field at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium has been a fortress, and their offense, led by a quarterback who's been slinging the ball effectively, averages over 30 points per game. The Cardinals are favored by 6.5 points, with the over/under set at 60.5, signaling expectations of a high-scoring affair. Virginia's passing attack ranks 22nd nationally, but facing Louisville's 14th-ranked aerial defense could stifle their rhythm early.
Indeed, the Cavaliers' road woes add another layer— they're just 1-5 in their last six away games against ranked foes. Louisville, meanwhile, rallied past Pitt 34-27 last week, showing resilience that Virginia's coach Tony Elliott has openly acknowledged as a "challenging opportunity." However, Virginia's upset pedigree might inject some unpredictability; their secondary held Florida State to key stops in overtime.
Predictions lean heavily toward Louisville pulling away in the second half, perhaps 31-24, capitalizing on turnovers that have plagued Virginia in big spots. Moreover, the Cardinals' ground game, underutilized so far, could exploit the Hoos' average run defense. Still, if Virginia's quarterback Chandler Morris stays mistake-free under 263 passing yards, they might keep it close.
Whatever unfolds, this matchup underscores the ACC's parity this season, where underdogs occasionally flip the script and leave fans pondering the conference's true contenders.