Who’s Playing
Louisville @ Duke
Current Records: Louisville 5-5; Duke 3-7
What to Know
The Louisville Cardinals have enjoyed the comforts of home their last two games, but now they must head out on the road. U of L and the Duke Blue Devils will face off in an ACC battle at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Cardinals should still be riding high after a win, while Duke will be looking to regain their footing.
You can’t lose the contest if you win every quarter, and that was precisely U of L’s strategy against the Syracuse Orange on Saturday. U of L took their game at home with ease, bagging a 41-3 victory over ‘Cuse. The team accrued 35 points in the first half and coasted on those for the win. U of L’s QB Malik Cunningham did his thing and passed for four TDs and 209 yards on 18 attempts in addition to punching in one rushing touchdown.
The Cardinals’ defense was a presence as well, as it got past the Orange’s offensive line to sack QB Garrett Shrader four times for a total loss of 39 yards. The heavy lifting was done by LB Yasir Abdullah and LB Allen Smith, who each racked up two sacks.
Meanwhile, the oddsmakers predicted a rough matchup for the Blue Devils on Saturday, and boy were they were right. They suffered a grim 48-17 defeat to the Virginia Tech Hokies. A silver lining for Duke was the play of QB Jordan Moore, who passed for one TD and 63 yards on 12 attempts in addition to rushing for one TD and 113 yards.
U of L is the favorite in this one, with an expected 19.5-point margin of victory. Those playing the odds have seen things go back and forth with the Cardinals, who are 5-4 against the spread.
U of L is now 5-5 while Duke sits at 3-7. Two defensive numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: U of L is stumbling into the matchup with the 199th most passing touchdowns allowed in the nation, having given up 18 on the season. Duke has experienced some passing struggles of their own as they are 240th worst in the nation in passing touchdowns allowed, with 24 on the season. It’s possible one of these Achilles’ heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
How To Watch
- When: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium — Durham, North Carolina
- TV: ESPN
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds
The Cardinals are a big 19.5-point favorite against the Blue Devils, according to the latest college football odds.
Over/Under: -112
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Series History
Louisville won the only game these two teams have played in the last seven years.
- Oct 14, 2016 – Louisville 24 vs. Duke 14
