It’s looking like Saturday night’s Kentucky at Louisville football game could get into a shootout, making the 57.5 O/U seem on the low side. That’s because both teams have QBs playing elite right now, with UK’s Will Levis and the Cardinals’ Malik Cunningham accounting for 11 total TDs in their respective games last week.
Kentucky got all the way up to #11 in the rankings at one point this season, and they’re looking at a pretty high quality bowl appearance if they can get to 9-3 with a win on Saturday – especially playing in the SEC. Louisville is also bowl eligible after getting their record to 6-5 with two straight wins, and they’re a dangerous matchup for the Wildcats after scoring 103 total points the last two games.
Kentucky Offense Clicking Good Now Too
Sure Louisville is averaging over 50 points/game in their last two, but Kentucky has been no slouch either going for 56, 34, and 42 points over their last three. Granted the last two were against horrible teams at Vanderbilt (34-17) and New Mexico State (56-16) but at the very least Mark Stoops is finding out what works as he heads into bowl season as well as a big game against Louisville.
What has worked for Stoops (as he hears his name circulate as a candidate for other coaching openings) is letting QB Will Levis do his thing. The Junior transfer from Penn State has blown up this year, throwing for 23 TD and 12 INT. He’s been especially great getting more comfortable in the UK system lately, throwing for 372 and 419 yards in two of the last three games with 10 TD passes over that span.
Just like Levis will likely give the Louisville defense fits, UK has their hands full trying to stop Cunningham. The Wildcats gave up 316 yards passing and 145 on the ground in a loss to Tennessee in week 10, but they’ve shut down two inferior opponents the last two weeks (allowing 16.5 ppg)
Can Cunningham Keep the Magic Going?
The Cardinals are a 3-point favorite in Saturday night’s Kentucky at Louisville matchup, some of that for being at home but also because the Cardinals offense has momentum following a 41-3 win over Syracuse in week 11 followed by an absolute pummeling of Duke, 62-22 last Saturday.
The major reason for Louisville’s offensive prowess the last two weeks has been Malik Cunningham, who had 4 TD through the air and another on the ground against Syracuse, but then topped even that with five passing scores and another two on the ground last week. Cunningham has 18TD passes this year, and another 18 rushing TDs, those are the type of numbers that put you into the Heisman discussion next preseason like former Louisville QB Lamar Jackson.
Week 13 Kentucky at Louisville Football Pick
Kentucky has had a great year against elite SEC competition, and although Levis has been solid at QB for the Wildcats he is still no Cunningham. Let these two QBs work their greatness, but ultimately it’s hard to go against Cunningham at home in what should be a high scoring game.
Louisville 44 – Kentucky 35
Free Pick: Louisville -3
Free Pick: Over 57.5
