Syracuse vs. Louisville Odds
| Syracuse Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -110 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | +135 |
| Louisville Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -110 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | -155 |
The Syracuse Orange enjoyed a much-needed rest during the bye week. After three ACC losses in a row, all by just three points, they've turned it around and enter this game on a two-game winning streak.
Those two most recent wins have put the Orange above .500, and they now only need to win one of their last three games to become bowl eligible.
The first of those three games may be their best chance as they head to Louisville this weekend to take on the Cardinals.
But while it might be their easiest game left on the schedule, this weekend's game against Louisville will be anything but easy. The Cardinals have defeated Eastern Kentucky, UCF, Florida State and Boston College. But their most recent game resulted in a blown fourth-quarter lead against Clemson.
A year ago, the Orange were shut out, 30-0, against Louisville on the road.
This is also an important weekend for the Louisville football program, as it will retire Lamar Jackson's number. The former Heisman Trophy winner will be in attendance in front of what's expected to be nearly a sell-out crowd.
Syracuse Orange
Syracuse Sticking With Run-Heavy Offense
Dino Babers has transformed this Syracuse football team that went 1-10 last year, its worst record since 2005. Led by sophomore quarterback Garrett Shrader they Orange sit at 5-4 heading into their matchup against Louisville this week.
Shrader took over for Tommy DeVito six weeks ago. While he's been better than Devito, he's a far cry from one of the better quarterbacks in the ACC.
Shrader is completing 51.2% of his passes and has thrown for 1,119 yards this season, but he's thrown three interceptions compared to just seven touchdowns.
The good news for Shrader is Syracuse doesn't want or need him to be in the running for the Davey O'Brien Award. Syracuse runs the ball on 61.52% of plays. And it does so for a good reason: Running back Sean Tucker is one of the best in the nation.
Tucker ran for 207 yards and a touchdown in his last game against Boston College, and he should be able to produce another strong outing on the ground against Louisville. Tucker has totaled 1,267 yards on the season, behind only Kenneth Walker III of Michigan State, while scoring 11 touchdowns.
Offensively, Syracuse is averaging 415.1 yards per game and 29.4 points.
Orange Defense Needs to Stop the Run
Defensively, the Orange have been much better than expected. They're allowing just 22.4 points per game and 316.7 yards on average.
One area they will need to focus on this weekend is against the rush. Syracuse has limited teams to just 142 rush yards per game and just 3.7 yards per carry, but Louisville ranks inside the top 25 in yards per rush and total rush yards per game.
Louisville Cardinals
Status of Cunningham is Paramount
After an impressive win over Boston College, the Cardinals were humbled by NC State. Then last week, they entered the fourth quarter against Clemson with a four-point lead, only to be outscored, 10-0, en route to a tough defeat.
This week, the most important thing for Louisville will be the status of quarterback Malik Cunningham, who is dealing with an ankle issue and is questionable.
Injuries Hurting Louisville Defense
On the other side of the ball, Louisville's defense lost star linebacker Monty Montgomery to a torn ACL in the win over UCF, and it has been a struggle for the unit since. An already subpar defense losing its star is a recipe for disaster.
Defensively, the Cardinals are allowing 27.4 points and 407.6 yards — 274.6 passing and 133.0 on the ground.
Louisville has won the past two meetings and leads this all-time series, 12-7.
Syracuse vs. Louisville Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Syracuse and Louisville match up statistically:
Syracuse Offense vs. Louisville Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 18 | 79 | |
| Line Yards | 45 | 95 | |
| Pass Success | 90 | 38 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 87 | 116 | |
| Big Play | 51 | 107 | |
| Havoc | 31 | 40 | |
| Finishing Drives | 51 | 113 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Louisville Offense vs. Syracuse Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 31 | 72 | |
| Line Yards | 41 | 36 | |
| Pass Success | 54 | 36 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 13 | 44 | |
| Big Play | 45 | 5 | |
| Havoc | 29 | 45 | |
| Finishing Drives | 55 | 78 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 4 | 55 |
| Coverage | 55 | 40 |
| Middle 8 | 81 | 44 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 119 | 54 |
| Plays per Minute | 60 | 86 |
| Rush Rate | 63.5% (11) | 57.9% (45) |
Data via College Football Data, FootballOutsiders, SP+, PFF and SportSource Analytics.
Syracuse vs. Louisville Betting Pick
It's tough to bet against Louisville here. With Lamar in the building, I think it performs above what it's done so far this year.
That said, Tucker is one of the best running backs in the country. Even if Louisville plays its best game of the year on both sides of the ball, I don't think it will be able to find answers against him.
On Tuesday, local news outlets confirmed that Cunningham was practicing, and there was little to no doubt he would play this weekend. But you have to assume he's going through an injury on some level.
For that reason, I'm taking Syracuse and the points. But I wouldn't go below the critical number of three.
Pick: Syracuse +3 (Play to +3 at -120)
