Kickoff: 12:30
TV: ESPN3/ ACC Network
Point Spread: Louisville by 7.5
After a disappointing performance at Florida State last weekend, Louisville returns home to the friendly confines of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium to take on Boston College. After a week filled with gut-wrenching stories about strippers and prostitution on the national stage, a home football game is a welcome site.
Boston College will come to town without a win over a Power5 school. The Eagles’ run heavy offense has been and continues to be a hot mess. They failed to score a single point in home games against Florida State and Wake Forest. Yes, that Wake Forest. They managed 17 points last week in a loss to Clemson, but that number is a little misleading because one touchdown came after taking over at the Clemson 20yd line, while the other came late in the 4th quarter during garbage time.
The Louisville defense came under heavy fire this week as some variance of the term, “lack of effort” was bandied about by players and coaches following a disastrous second half against FSU. It’s hard to deny that effort was an issue with those kinds of internal statements coming from the team. There was a lot on the line last weekend against a big time opponent, and heading into the half you really couldn’t have asked to be in a better position. Considering the circumstances, a "lack of effort" from the team was confusing at best and unacceptable at worst.
Boston College will not present the same sort of match-up nightmares and freak athleticism we saw last weekend, but my prediction is that effort will be obvious on Saturday afternoon.
Unlike their offense, the Boston College Defense is going to be up to the task. One of the most telling stats I’ve seen this week is that the BC defense has allowed less rushing yards on the year than the worst rushing offense in the nation has gained. That’s just ridiculous. This defense may be the very best we see all year. They are fundamentally sound, they swarm to the football, and they really get after the QB.
Consider the same games where BC was held scoreless, FSU and Wake. Despite showing no life on offense, the Eagles were right in those games because of their defense.
Wake Forest managed only a field goal, and the Eagles held the Florida State offense to just 7 points. Yes, the same Florida State that hung 41 on us last weekend. The same Dalvin Cook who ran wild on us last weekend mustered only 54 yards against BC, 28 of which came on a single long run.
The Louisville offense will need to value the football, and take advantage of big plays when the opportunities present themselves. Clemson was able to get some big plays in the passing game last weekend, but their QB took a beating as BC sacked DeShaun Watson three times.
Lamar Jackson and the OLine are going to have their hands full tomorrow.
The bottom line for this team's overall outlook is that they’ve lost only one game that no one expected them to lose. The best teams on the schedule are now in the rear-view mirror, but there's no room for error. Every game from now until the finale against Kentucky is a must win if the 2015 campaign is going to be considered a success by most fans. Any wiggle room was squandered against Houston, but 8-4 is still possible. The last thing anyone wants is to head into the UK game needing a win to make it to 7-5.
I honestly think 8-4 would be a very successful year given the roster turnover and youth movement. For that to happen, the team has to move on to the task at hand with the mindset that it all starts tomorrow at 12:30.
TV: ESPN3/ ACC Network
Point Spread: Louisville by 7.5
After a disappointing performance at Florida State last weekend, Louisville returns home to the friendly confines of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium to take on Boston College. After a week filled with gut-wrenching stories about strippers and prostitution on the national stage, a home football game is a welcome site.
Boston College will come to town without a win over a Power5 school. The Eagles’ run heavy offense has been and continues to be a hot mess. They failed to score a single point in home games against Florida State and Wake Forest. Yes, that Wake Forest. They managed 17 points last week in a loss to Clemson, but that number is a little misleading because one touchdown came after taking over at the Clemson 20yd line, while the other came late in the 4th quarter during garbage time.
The Louisville defense came under heavy fire this week as some variance of the term, “lack of effort” was bandied about by players and coaches following a disastrous second half against FSU. It’s hard to deny that effort was an issue with those kinds of internal statements coming from the team. There was a lot on the line last weekend against a big time opponent, and heading into the half you really couldn’t have asked to be in a better position. Considering the circumstances, a "lack of effort" from the team was confusing at best and unacceptable at worst.
Boston College will not present the same sort of match-up nightmares and freak athleticism we saw last weekend, but my prediction is that effort will be obvious on Saturday afternoon.
Unlike their offense, the Boston College Defense is going to be up to the task. One of the most telling stats I’ve seen this week is that the BC defense has allowed less rushing yards on the year than the worst rushing offense in the nation has gained. That’s just ridiculous. This defense may be the very best we see all year. They are fundamentally sound, they swarm to the football, and they really get after the QB.
Consider the same games where BC was held scoreless, FSU and Wake. Despite showing no life on offense, the Eagles were right in those games because of their defense.
Wake Forest managed only a field goal, and the Eagles held the Florida State offense to just 7 points. Yes, the same Florida State that hung 41 on us last weekend. The same Dalvin Cook who ran wild on us last weekend mustered only 54 yards against BC, 28 of which came on a single long run.
The Louisville offense will need to value the football, and take advantage of big plays when the opportunities present themselves. Clemson was able to get some big plays in the passing game last weekend, but their QB took a beating as BC sacked DeShaun Watson three times.
Lamar Jackson and the OLine are going to have their hands full tomorrow.
The bottom line for this team's overall outlook is that they’ve lost only one game that no one expected them to lose. The best teams on the schedule are now in the rear-view mirror, but there's no room for error. Every game from now until the finale against Kentucky is a must win if the 2015 campaign is going to be considered a success by most fans. Any wiggle room was squandered against Houston, but 8-4 is still possible. The last thing anyone wants is to head into the UK game needing a win to make it to 7-5.
I honestly think 8-4 would be a very successful year given the roster turnover and youth movement. For that to happen, the team has to move on to the task at hand with the mindset that it all starts tomorrow at 12:30.
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