Pinnacle +180  ET365 +180 Sportsinteraction +180 888Sport +180

Posted at 9:30 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

Louisville +180 over Miami

L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium – Louisville, KY

Streaming: ABC

12:00 PM EST. Depending on who you ask, Miami is a team that has the heart of a champion or they just seem to be betrothed to Lady Luck. The line in this contest would imply the latter not the former and anytime we see a team ranked just outside the Top Five spotting a short tag on the road to an unranked opponent, one could conjecture that said good tidings are about to run out.

For those that may recall, Louisville started its season on the periphery of the Top 25 in the AP Poll (#26 in fact) while Miami was #19. The Cards very quickly ascended to as high as #15 in late September before they would fall out of a ranking after losing at #16 Notre Dame by a touchdown margin and losing again in Louisville the following week against SMU by way of a touchdown margin. Southern Methodist incidentally is presently in the Top 25 at #21. Essentially the Cardinals lost by a combined 14 points to two teams that are presently ranked and they were competitive in both contests, as the Cards had chances to tie it late in the fourth quarter but turned the ball over on their opponent’s side of the field in both matches. In the recap of both games for SMU and Notre Dame against Louisville, it would read that the Irish had to “hold off” the L’Ville or the Mustangs had to “hold on” against the Cardinals. In other words, time simply ran out for Louisville.

The same cannot actually be said for the Hurricanes who were the benefactors of subjective officiating in their last two victories. Had they not been so fortunate, “The U” themselves could be 4-2 like Louisville. We can recapitulate the fated Hail Mary that was ruled never was for Virginia Tech which allowed Miami to escape with a 38-34 win; and we can also highlight Miami’s follow-up with a 39-38 victory at California that could have easily been squashed had a targeting call been upheld in the series before Miami had a chance to go to the front. In what was clearly a helmet-to-helmet collision, the referee picked up the flag and a California first down that would have all but sealed the game for the Bears. Instead it gave Miami’s defense second life when Cal was forced to punt on the next play. Had The Stripes not been Miami’s 12th man, the Canes would be unranked now, as their other wins were against USF, Florida, Florida A&M, and Ball State. Instead, what you will hear about is the Cam Ward Heisman Campaign and how Miami finds ways to win with him under center. What you will also hear is Miami’s ceiling as an ACC Champion and College Football Playoff contender but had the bounces not literally gone their way, the Canes wouldn’t be in any of these discourses at this point, nor would they likely even be favored. Louisville outright. Take the points if you wish but we’ll play it two ways.

One unit on Louisville straight up and one unit on Louisville +6½.

Sherwood

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