NCAAF Lines: It is been quite a rocky road that has taken Bobby Petrino back to the Louisville Cardinals for a second stint as their head coach where he first took the program into national prominence before departing for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL following a 2006 season in which the Ville went 12-1. Petrino cut and run in his first season at Atlanta to take over the Arkansas Razorbacks, where he had his best team yet set for a title run in 2012 before an infamous motorcycle wreck destroyed his career. After a year at Western Kentucky where he led the Hilltoppers to a bowl, the second coming of Petrino also marks the historic first game of Louisville as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Louisville Cardinals will host the Miami Hurricanes at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Monday night with coverage on ESPN starting at 8 PM ET. BetDSI opened with Louisville as a three point favorite.
Petrino’s Challenge
Louisville failed to win the American Athletic Conference last year despite having Heisman candidate Teddy Bridgewater and a defense that allowed just 12 points per game. Bridgewater is gone as are seven defensive starters. Sophomore Will Gardner is the man tasked with filling the huge shoes of Bridgewater. Todd Grantham arrives as defensive coordinator after flaming out at Georgia and perhaps staying a step ahead of the posse. He has reportedly been feuding with Petrino as both men are hotheaded and stubborn to a fault. Louisville has paid out in just seven out of their last 20 games as a home favorite.
Hurricanes Rising?
In his four years on the job head coach Al Golden has methodically improved the Miami Hurricanes while having to deal with the cloud of NCAA sanctions the occurred before his arrival. Miami was 9-4 last year and has seven starters back on each side of the line with 56 returning lettermen. Senior transfer Jake Heaps and freshman QB Brad Kaaya have been battling for the top spot and Heaps recently was said to have a sore arm. The Canes defense was a major disappointment and ranked 13th in the ACC last year. Miami has covered just one out of their last five games as a road dog.
Our Pick
We’ll play the trends with both teams facing so many questions and call for Louisville!
