Louisville vs UCF Odds and Predictions

• UCF is -6.5 home favorite over Louisville on Friday night (Sept 9th)
• The Cardinals beat the Knights 42-35 last season
• A look at the matchup and odds can be found below with a pick

Two teams who couldn’t have started their seasons in much more different ways meet when Louisville visits UCF at 7:30 p.m on Friday, September 9th at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando.

Louisville lost 31-7 at Syracuse last Saturday. Two days earlier, UCF rolled to a 56-10 victory over South Carolina State of the FCS.

UCF is a 6.5-point favorite after opening at -5. It is expected to be a rainy night as the weather forecast calls for an 80% chance of thunderstorms, a low of 74 degrees and wind from southeast at 5 mph.

Louisville vs UCF Odds

Odds as of September 7th at Barstool Sportsbook.

UCF has a 70.15% win probability as -235 favorites on the moneyline in the college football odds.

Louisville Betting Outlook

Cardinals quarterback Malik Cunningham had a rough opener as he committed three turnovers in the second half. He was intercepted twice in the third quarter and lost a fumble in the fourth period.

𝙈𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙡 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 🪄

📺 ACCN pic.twitter.com/EFQ8cCcHd5

— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 4, 2022

Cunningham completed 16 of 22 passes for 152 yards while being sacked three times. He also rushed for 34 yards on 13 carries.

That came a year after Cunningham led Louisville to a 41-3 rout of the Orange. Cunningham finished the 2021 season with 2,841 passing yards and 1,031 rushing yards.

Louisville certainly couldn’t have expected to open the season on such a sour note. The Cardinals return 17 starters from last season, including 10 from a defense that had 33 sacks and 10 interceptions in 2021.

However, the Cardinals had two sacks and did not force any turnovers against Syracuse. The Orange had 449 total yards.

Louisville’s Tiyon Evans provided a highlight with a 36-yard touchdown run as he finished with 89 yards on 13 carries after transferring from Tennessee. Wide receiver Tyler Hudson, a Central Arkansas transfer, had eight catches for 102 yards.

Not a lot to love about Louisville week 1. Tiyon Evans got an opportunity to perform; easily the offense’s best player in this one.

A lot of talk about the 2023 RB class, 2024 has some ballers of its own. Add Evans as someone to watch. #Devy pic.twitter.com/GNeEwfWavv

— JC (@JCJDynasty) September 5, 2022

Offensive tackle Renato Brown will be forced to sit out the first half after being ejected for targeting Syracuse linebacker Stefon Thompson.

UCF Betting Outlook

John Rhys Plumlee’s debut as UCF’s quarterback was a smashing success as he threw for four touchdowns.

Plumlee was 20-of-31 passing for 308 yards. The Ole Miss transfer was also the game’s leading rusher with 99 yards and a TD on 13 carries.

John Rhys Plumlee runs in his first TD with the Knights!

UCF up 21-0

1st qt #UCF pic.twitter.com/T3TOCrrSNP

— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) September 1, 2022

In 2019, Plumlee began his career as a quarterback with the Rebels and ran for 1,023 yards and 12 touchdowns while passing for 910 yards and four scores. He then converted to wide receiver and spent the last two seasons at that position.

UCF totaled 600 yards with 308 passing and 292 rushing. The Knights also had 29 first downs.

Two other transfers from the SEC made an impact for UCF. Alabama transfer Javon Baker had five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown and Kemore Gamble, a transfer from Florida, had three catches for 82 yards and a TD.

Former Alabama WR Javon Baker with a touchdown catch in his first game at UCF. pic.twitter.com/5c8xOia3yd

— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) September 2, 2022

UCF’s defense limited South Carolina State to just 91 total yards – 56 passing, 35 rushing — and nine first downs.

Louisville vs UCF Prediction

The teams also met last season and Louisville registered a wild 42-35 victory at home. Cunningham shined as he had 364 yards of offense, throwing for 265 yards and a touchdown and adding 99 yards and two TDs rushing.

Louisville leads the series 2-1 but looked discombobulated at Syracuse. UCF beat an overmatched foe in its opener but looks far ahead of the Cardinals at this early stage of the season.

Pick: UCF -6.5 (-108)