Boston College at Louisville 10/23/21 - College Football Picks & Predictions

The Boston College Eagles will hope to end their two-game losing streak when they travel on the road to Cardinal Stadium to take on the Louisville Cardinals. Louisville is also on a two-game losing streak after they dropped back-to-back games to Virginia and Wake Forest, dropping to 3-3 and 1-2 in ACC play. Boston College started the year 4-0 but with the back-to-back losses dropped to 4-2 and 0-2 in ACC play.

Louisville has been a potent offensive unit, even in their two losses scoring over 30 points in both losses, and averaging 32.3 points per game this season. Malik Cunningham continues to be a threat with his arm, and his legs, completing 64.4% of his passes for 1,577 yards and 8 touchdowns, adding 497 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. 

Louisville has an excellent balance offensively averaging 180 yards on the ground and 272 through the air, freshman running back Jalen Mitchell has had an excellent start to his career racking up 357 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Cunninghams’ favorite target through the air has been the sophomore tight end, Marshon Ford, he’s caught over 20 passes for the third straight season and leads the team with 265 yards. 

The Louisville defense has continued to struggle this season allowing 29.2 points per game and allowing 449.3 yards per contest, although this will be far from the best offensive unit they’ll face or have faced this season the defense will need to improve if this team wants to be a factor in the ACC as the season turns past the half waypoint. 

Boston College has taken care of business in their non-conference play but have yet to notch a win in ACC play. They’ve been a solid offensive unit averaging 30.8 points per game throughout the season, but are scoring just 10 points per game in their two ACC contests. Dennis Grosel has taken over the quarterback position after an injury early in the season, he’s completing just 59.4% of his passes with five touchdowns to five interceptions. The Eagles have leaned heavily on the run game led by sophomore Pat Garwo III who is averaging 6.2 yards per carry, racking up 519 yards and five touchdowns. 

The Boston College defense has been very solid this season, their holding opponents to 329.8 yards and allowing just 19.5 points per contest. Even in a 33-7 loss to NC State their last time out, they allowed 381 yards, and NC State scored a defensive touchdown, it’s been a through and through solid defense all season long.