Louisville at Virginia Free Pick & Betting Lines

Posted by Michael Hunt on Wednesday,October 26, 2016 5:29, EDT in

Louisville moved up to No. 5 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 after former No. 2 Ohio State lost last week. So the Cardinals might be in good shape for the College Football Playoff as long as they win out even though they most likely won’t play in the ACC title game. U of L should have little trouble Saturday at Virginia, but it could be a trap game. The Wahoos are huge underdogs on college football lines, however.

Here’s a Look at the Louisville at Virginia Free Pick, Betting Lines & TV Info

When: Saturday, Oct. 29, Noon ET
Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Va.
TV: ESPN2
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Louisville / Virginia
Opening NCAA Football Lines: Louisville -31.5 (69)

Why Bet on Louisville?

The Cardinals (6-1) crushed NC State 54-13 last week. Heisman Trophy favorite Lamar Jackson broke a school single-season record with four first-half touchdowns, and Louisville had three interceptions. Jackson passed for three touchdowns and ran for a 36-yard score on the opening drive, giving him 34 TDs with five games to play. Dave Ragone and Brian Brohm each had 33. Jackson had 359 of his 431 yards on offense by halftime. He threw TD passes of 74 yards to Jaylen Smith, 3 yards to Cole Hikutini and 16 yards to Jamari Staples. Blanton Creque had four field goals and six conversions to set a single-game school scoring record for a kicker with 18 points.

Jackson has been responsible for 34 touchdowns this year, the most in a single season in school history. Career wise, he has accounted for 57 scores that ranks fifth in school history. Overall, Jackson is responsible for 342 points in his career, which ranks seventh on the school’s chart. This season, his 204 points are the most in program history. Jackson leads all FBS players by rushing and passing for a touchdown in 10 straight games, and 13 contests since the start of last season. He continues to lead the country with 16 rushing scores, while ranking 14th in the country with 18 passing touchdowns. Jackson leads all quarterbacks in rushing with 138.67 yards per game — posting five 100-yard games and 10 for his career.

Louisville has scored at least 35 points in the first half five times this season, most in the FBS. Louisville scored at least 50 points for the fifth time this season, the most in FBS. Louisville leads the nation in scoring at 52.6 points per game, and is one of three teams leading the country with 48 touchdowns scored this season. Louisville’s defense held NC State to only nine first downs, the lowest by an opponent this season. It’s also the fewest by a Louisville foe since Boston College totaled four in 2015.

Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between the Cards and Cavs, with the series tied at 2-2. Louisville held off the Cavaliers 38-31 last season at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Why Bet on Virginia?

The Cavaliers (2-5) lost 35-14 last week to North Carolina in the school’s first game after a former player had filed a federal lawsuit alleging hazing in the program. The Cavaliers allowed 488 yards to North Carolina and gaining just 253 themselves. Faced with heavy pressure from the Tar Heels’ defense, Kurt Benkert had a season-low 126 passing yards and completed 19 of 32 passes as his offense converted just 3 of 19 third downs.

With seven catches, running back Taquan Mizzell extended his active reception streak to 40 games. He entered the game tied for fourth longest active streak in the nation. With 106 rushing yards, Mizzell moved to No. 26 all-time in career rushing at UVA with, 1,596 yards. He passed David Sloan (1,567), Jeff Anderson (1,508) and Kevin Morgan (1,504). Safety Quin Blanding led UVA with 13 tackles, giving the junior his 16th career double-digit tackle game in 31 career games. Blanding’s 13 tackles moves the junior to No. 13 all-time at UVA with 313 career tackles.

Former quarterback Matt Blundin will have his No. 14 jersey retired on Saturday. When Blundin was handed the reins in 1991 he set an NCAA record that still stands today by throwing 224 straight passes without an interception. He finished the year 135-of- 224 passing for 1,902 yards and 19 touchdowns with zero interceptions.

No. 5 Louisville is the highest-ranked team to visit Scott Stadium since then-No. 2 Oregon in 2013. UL's last visit to Scott Stadium ended in a 23-21 win by the Cavaliers over the then-No. 21 Cardinals. Former kicker Ian Frye booted the third-longest (42 yards) game-winning field goal in program history with 1:24 left to seal the victory. UVA is 2-8- 1 all-time in Charlottesville against the AP Top 5. Four of those games, including both wins (1995, 2005) came against Florida State.

My Free Pick

Cardinals are 4-9- 1 ATS in their last 14 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
Cardinals are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in October.
Cavaliers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 conference games.
Cavaliers are 6-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

Take the points on NCAA football odds and go over the total.