We have a non-conference matchup featuring Louisville (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) at UCF (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) on Friday night at 7:30pmET from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando.
These teams faced each other last season with Louisville getting the win 42-35 as a 7-point favorite at home. Malik Cunningham threw for 265 yards with one passing TD and two rushing scores.
The Cards were hammered in their first game 31-7 at Syracuse last Saturday as a 5.5-point favorite. The Knights crushed FCS South Carolina State 56-10 last Thursday.
Malik Cunningham completed 16 of 22 for 152 yards, but had two interceptions and just 34 yards rushing on 13 attempts in Louisville's loss at Syracuse last Saturday. The fourth-year starter was also sacked three times and lost a fumble. Cunningham contributed three turnovers, but the defense didn't help by getting gashed on the ground for 207 yards on 40 attempts and allowing 242 passing yards. The lack of tackling and the noise in the JMA Wireless Dome were also factors.
“It hurts,” Cunningham said after the game on 247sports. “I’m very disappointed. The team is disappointed. I’m disappointed in myself. I let my team down, let my city down. I just got to learn from it.”
??: Louisville Football Weekly Press Conference, Presented by @NeilHuffman https://t.co/YsB9uRkjjq
— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) September 6, 2022
The good news was that Tennessee transfer Tiyon Evans led the team with 89 rushing yards. He also had the Cardinals' only touchdown with 1:10 left in the first quarter on a 36-yard run. Tyler Hudson led the team with eight catches for 102 yards. He's a junior transfer from Central Arkansas, who had 27 touchdown receptions in three seasons and was named ASUN Player of the Year.
Defensively, the Cards were pretty average last season in a 6-7 year. They struggled the most against the pass, allowing 245.6 yards per game. They also allowed a 42.5% rushing success rate, which ranked 97th among FBS defenses. Opponents averaged 5.22 yards per rush against Louisville. Syracuse racked up 449 yards of total offense and averaged 5.2 yards per carry so they did not take a step up in their opener.