Louisville Cardinals (8-4) vs. Washington Huskies (6-6)
December 31, 2024 2:00 pm EDT
The Line: Washington Huskies +2.5 / Louisville Cardinals -2.5; Over/Under: +49.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Louisville Cardinals and the Washington Huskies meet in the Sun Bowl in college football action from the Sun Bowl on Tuesday afternoon. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Washington vs Louisville Prediction.
Louisville Recap
The Louisville Cardinals come into the bowl game with an 8-4 overall record on behalf of the ACC. This will be the 4th straight bowl appearance for the Cardinals after losing the Holiday Bowl last year.
Cardinals Looking To Get Back On Track In Bowl Game
The Louisville Cardinals have some interesting names in the transfer portal/opt-out list, including starting QB Tyler Shough, who threw for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions on 62.7% passing as it was announced that he would not be playing in this game as well as two of his top receivers, including leading receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, who had 61 receptions for 1,013 yards and 9 touchdowns this season. Chris Bell still looks like he’s going to play after logging 677 receiving yards and 37 receptions with 4 touchdowns. Isaac Brown will play as well after rushing for a team-high 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns and Duke Watson had 514 rushing yards with 7 TDs as well. On defense, the most notable losses will be DE Ashton Gillotte, who had a team-high 4.5 sacks this season, and CB Quincy Riley, but Louisville will retain their top two tacklers in TJ Quinn who had 79 tackles total and Stanquan Clark, who chipped in 72 total tackles, a team-high 42 solo tackles as well as a pair of interceptions.
Why the Louisville Cardinals will win
- Louisville has won four of its last five games.
- The favorite has covered the spread in eight of Washington’s last nine games.
- Washington has failed to cover the spread in six of its last seven games as an underdog.
- Louisville has won the first quarter in eight of its last 10 games against non-conference opponents.
Washington Recap
The Washington Huskies followed up their appearance in the national championship from last year by going 6-6 overall this season, their first full season as a member of the Big Ten. It will be Washington’s third straight season bowling after an Alamo Bowl victory in year one under Kalen DeBoer back in 2022.
Huskies Hoping To Finish Season On High Note
The Huskies have some interesting roster developments of their own in this game, most notably the benching of starting QB Will Howard, which happened in the season finale, and head coach Jedd Fisch has stated that Demond Williams will get the start in the bowl game. The Huskies do lose their starting LT Kahlee Tafai, who has already transferred to Minnesota as well as starting LG Gaard Memmelaar. Starting RB Jonah Coleman is potentially opting out for this game for Washington, but has stated he will return in 2024 after rushing for 1,011 yards and 9 touchdowns. It at least looks like Washington will have their top two receivers in Denzel Boston who had 60 grabs for 807 yards and 9 touchdowns. Giles Jackson also has 74 receptions for 732 yards and 3 touchdowns. On defense, the majority of the starters return, led by Carson Bruener, who had 93 total tackles and 3 interceptions to lead the Huskies this season.
Why the Washington Huskies will win
- Louisville has lost three of its last four December games as a favorite.
- Washington has won three of its last four games as an underdog at neutral venues.
- Louisville has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six games played at neutral venues.
- Washington has covered the spread in four of its last five Bowl games.
Washington vs Louisville Prediction
I’m on Washington here. I know that both teams will likely not play with their starting QBs here, at least Louisville will for sure, and without Shough, I just don’t see the Cardinals having a ton of success offensively. I think Washington’s the better team here and the majority of their starting skill position players should be good to go here and I think that ends up being the difference in this one. Give me the Washington Huskies here.
