The Cavaliers of Virginia (-6) are set to welcome their ACC nemesis Louisville Cardinals to David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium. This key daytime game is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. ET and ACC Network will broadcast the action.
Louisville Cardinals at Virginia Cavaliers Betting Preview
In this Saturday Atlantic Coast game, Virginia is getting picked as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 6 points. The Cardinals are also receiving +190 moneyline odds while the Cavaliers are -240. There will probably be some good live betting possibilities in this game, and oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 51 points.
The sharp action is siding with the Wahoos, as the opening line was -4. The total has not changed after being initially set at 51.
The Cardinals have gained 0.0 units so far in 2018 and are 0-3 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an O/U mark of 1-2. The Cavaliers are up 1.0 unit this season. The team is 3-0 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-1.
The Cardinals have gone 2-1 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any ACC competition yet. The Cavaliers are 2-1 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Cards are coming off a 20-17 victory over Western Kentucky last week where Malik Cunningham completed just 10-of-18 passes for 88 yards. Cunningham (129 rushing yards on 21 attempts) also led the ground attack and was complemented by Dae Williams (58 yards on nine carries, two TDs). Jaylen Smith (three receptions, 38 yards) and Devante Peete (two catches, 17 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Virginia enters this one after just getting a 45-31 win over Ohio. Bryce Perkins completed 25-of-30 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Ellis (171 rushing yards on 19 attempts, three TDs) and the signal-caller Perkins (eight yards on 10 carries) led the running game while Olamide Zaccheaus (nine receptions, 247 yards, two TDs) and Hasise Dubois (six catches, 69 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Louisville has run the ball on 55.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Virginia has an overall rush percentage of 59.3 percent. The Cardinals have run for 140 yards per game and have four scores on the ground this year. The Wahoos are averaging 221 rush yards per game and have seven total rushing TDs.
The Cards offense has tallied 168 yards per contest through the air overall and has three passing scores so far. The Wahoos have recorded 225 pass yards per contest and have seven total pass TDs.
Louisville has let opponents rush for an average of 188 yards and pass for 198 yards per game. The Virginia defense has given up 195.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 129.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Wahoos are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.62 to opponents, while the Cardinals have given up a 7.07 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Cunningham is up to 88 yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 56 percent of his 18 attempts with zero scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Cunningham has a 4.89 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.69 over the last two games.
On the other sideline, Bryce Perkins has completed 38-of-54 passes for 564 yards, five TDs and one INT. Perkins’ ANY/A sits at 9.70 for the year and 9.82 over his past two outings.
When these two schools met last year, Louisville got the victory over Virginia, 38-21.
NCAA Tip: Louisville Cardinals at Virginia Cavaliers
SU Winner – Louisville, ATS Winner – Louisville, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
Louisville was favored by 24 points in its last game and the O/U going into it was 54. The under cashed and Louisville did not cover in the 20-17 victory over Western Kentucky.
Louisville has rushed for 5.3 yards per carry over its past two games.
Virginia has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over its last two.
Virginia has lost four fumbles this season while Louisville has lost one.
In its last three matchups, Louisville is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Virginia was favored by 4 points in its last outing and the Over/Under was set at 55.5. The over cashed and Virginia covered in that 45-31 victory over Ohio.
The Cardinals offense has tallied one pass play of 40+ yards, while the Cavaliers have accounted for two such plays.
Both teams have allowed one pass play of 40+ yards. The Louisville defense has given up four pass plays of 30+ yards while Virginia has given up five such plays.
The Louisville offense has created three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Virginia has created six such runs.
The Cardinals defense has allowed two rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cavaliers have given up three such runs.
Each team defense has tallied five sacks this year.
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