The Louisville Cardinals’ fantastic start came to a halt last week against Clemson, but the team played well enough to keep it in the College Football Playoff conversation. Louisville will need to run the table to have that chance, which starts with a bounce-back in Week 7 against the Duke Blue Devils.
Louisville is a huge favorite as the oddsmakers are forecasting an easy win, although Duke backers hope for at least a cover since an upset seems like a monumental task in this one. The Cardinals are 4-1 on the season and ranked No. 7 nationally, while Duke is 3-3 on the year and winless in conference play.
This contest in Week 7 of the regular season will go down Friday, October 14, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Duke +32
Louisville -32
Odds Analysis
The spread is extremely high, which is a nod to Louisville’s impressive start to the season. It seems to be correctly pegged, as about half of the money is coming in on each side. It’s not easy for any team to cover a spread of more than four touchdowns in a conference game, but the Cardinals do have the explosiveness to have a shot at it.
Player to Watch
Lamar Jackson - Even though he couldn’t finish the rally, the Cardinals quarterback equipped himself well last week against a tough Clemson defense. After a slow start, Jackson finished 27-of-44 for with 295 yards, a touchdown and an interception while also adding 162 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Jackson has thrown for 1,625 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also added 92 carries for 688 yards and 14 more scores. Jackson is one of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy, and hopes to keep it rolling in this one.
Duke’s strength is its defense, which gives up 21.5 points per game, but it will have a really tough task slowing down one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
Key Stat
58 -- That’s the incredible points per game average Louisville puts up on the season. The Cardinals are one of the most explosive offenses in college football and have a balanced rushing and passing attack.
Led by Jackson, Louisville is throwing for 350 yards per game. While that’s impressive, the running game has been even better as the team is averaging 309.2 yards per contest. Jackson leads the team in rushing, while Brandon Radcliff has been another key piece as he has rushed the ball 59 times for 496 yards and three touchdowns.
Louisville’s top receiver is James Quick. He has 23 catches for 443 yards and four touchdowns on the year, while three other receivers have totaled more than 200 yards passing this season.
Free ATS Pick
Duke has won two of its past three games, with an impressive road win over Notre Dame as well as a 13-6 win over Army last time out in a game played in tough weather conditions. The Blue Devils have been unable to get on track in ACC play, though, losing to Virginia and Wake Forest.
Duke needs a big game from quarterback Daniel Jones, who has thrown for 1,455 yards on the season with seven touchdowns but has also tossed eight interceptions. Jones and the offense needs to stay on the field as long as possible to keep Jackson and Co. away from it.
Louisville might have taken a step back last week as its potential game-winning drive ended just short of the goal-line against Clemson, but many who watched were impressed with both teams. The Cardinals still have a chance at making the College Football Playoff by winning out.
Jackson will make this one easy as Duke does not have the personnel needed to hang with the Cardinals. However, covering a 32-point spread against an ACC opponent is too much to ask.
The Blue Devils are disciplined enough to keep this game from going sideways immediately and are the right choice on the gambling line.
College Football Odds: Louisville 45, Duke 17
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