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Louisville at Rutgers Football Betting & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

While most conferences are playing their conference championship games this week, most of the Big East teams play their final regular season game. That is the case when Louisville heads to Rutgers on Thursday December 4th. Louisville is having its second consecutive subpar season. The Cardinals went 6-6 in 2007 and will not be assured a bowl game even if they upset Rutgers to get to 6-6 in 2008. Rutgers is the 11-point favorite with the total set at 51.

Louisville football betting backers have seen their season go south in recent weeks. The Cardinals enter this week’s matchup having lost four in a row straight up and against the spread. While their offense has looked explosive at times, its been lack of execution with the little things that have really cost this team. The offense racked up a lot of yards against West Virginia in Louisville’s last game, but it shot itself in the foot with turnovers. This kind of sloppy play has hindered the Cards all season long. Taking care of the football will be top priority for Hunter Cantwell and company against a Rutgers defense that has been causing plenty of havoc over the last month.

Defensively, the Cards are very banged up, especially in the secondary where they are down to a third-stringer at free safety. This is one of the reason why you see the college football odds in double digits for this game. Unlike the past few years when Rutgers pounded the ball with Ray Rice, they do much of their damage through the air this season. Louisville has had the benefit of a bye week to stop the bleeding and to put extra preparation time into this game. QB Hunter Cantwell has had an up and down year but, in what will likely be his last collegiate game, I expect him to go out on a high note. An inconsistent Rutgers secondary can be taken advantage of if Cantwell does not make crucial mistakes by forcing throws. If you think odds makers are giving the Cards too many, bet Louisville at +11 at BetUS and receive up to a 50% sign up bonus.

Rutgers is the hottest team in the Big East. Since starting the season 1-5, the Scarlet Knights have won five straight games and a win in this game would solidify a bowl berth for them. Head coach Greg Schiano will likely also get a couple Big East Coach of the Year nods for the way his team has battled back. Rutgers had only been to one bowl game in its history when Schiano took the job. It’s now been to three in a row, and another win would lock up a fourth consecutive postseason bid. That would give the Rutgers senior class, which arrived as freshman on a campus with no bowl history at all, four-for-four in earning bowl bids.

Offensively, the Mike Teel to Kenny Britt combo has been a deadly combo down the stretch. Teel has other nice option in Tiquan Underwood and Tim Brown to attack the banged up Cardinals secondary. Defensively, Rutgers is coming off its best performance of the season, holding Army to two passing yards. Stopping Louisville’s running game, which throws three different good backs at you will be key in winning this football game. If you like the Knights to stay hot and cover this big number, bet Rutgers at BetUS.

Make sure you check back to see who Jimmy Boyd is playing in this one. Play all of Jimmy’s Week 15 football picks for another big week in the black.

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 1, 2008 · Filed Under College Football Betting Articles, News & Previews

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