Rutgers vs. Louisville 2011 College Football Predictions Week 8: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-1), the only team 2-0 in league play, travel to play the Louisville Cardinals in a crucial BIG EAST college football match Friday (8 p.m. ET) at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Ky. The Cardinals, under second year head coach Charlie Strong, are 2-4 on the year but at 0-2 in the league, are looking for that first win. The Cardinals get a lot more respect at home and are -2 chalk college football odds favorites over the Scarlet Knights with a combined point game total (over/under) of 40.
Louisville is coming off a 16-25 conference road loss against their rival Cincinnati in Week 7 in spite of holding a nine point lead at half-time. Cardinal's backers at the betting window were able to cash-in as a 13-point underdog. The 36 points scored took the total UNDER the posted 49. Louisville has covered the point spread (ATS) in three of its last four games and has a 3-3 ATS record on the year. The total has gone UNDER in four of six games this season.
Rutgers got a scare from the Midshipmen of Navy but etched out a 21-20 victory, but narrowly missed the cover (ATS) as a 3-chalk favorite. The 41 points on the board went under the posted 54 total.
The strength of the Scarlet Knights, who have won four straight overall entering the game, appears to be the defense. Rutgers is tied for the national lead in turnovers gained with 24 while leading in turnover margin at 2.17. They're allowing just 16.0 points per game, which ranks 12th nationally. They are a pressure defense and are playing really well. Louisville’s issue on defense is the inability to stop big plays, according to Strong.
I expect this game to be a defensive battle, unlike the track meet variety under previous coaching regimes at Louisville. The Cardinals have not been home since Oct. 1 and will be happy to get a little home cooking. This team is showing improvement week after week. The game should be close but I'm calling for the Cardinal's to get their first conference win in an upset. MY Pick: Louisville -2.
Check back later in the week for all the College Football Odds for Week 8-Saturday.
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