Game: Murray State Racers @ Louisville Cardinals
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Racers +43.5, Cardinals -43.5
Total: 56
Louisville’s first game under head coach Jeff Brohm garnered high marks. The Cardinals are now attempting to give their former star quarterback a successful home debut. Louisville plays host to FCS Murray State tonight at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Last Friday night in Atlanta, the Cardinals outlasted Georgia Tech to win 39-34. Cardinals QB Jack Plummer completed 18-of-31 passes for 247 yards and three touchdown passes against Georgia Tech. Two of those touchdown tosses went to Jamari Thrash. Louisville rallied from a 28-13 halftime deficit, scoring 26 second-half points in the victory.
Fortunately for Brohm, he is very familiar with Plummer. Brohm coached him at Purdue before Plummer spent the 2022 season at California. He transferred to Louisville to play for his former mentor. The Cardinals were a bit jittery and off in the first half against Georgia Tech. Louisville managed two Brock Travelstead field goals and the first of Plummer’s three touchdown passes in the first half.
Murray State also won its inaugural game, defeating Presbyterian 41-10 last Saturday. The Racers had a strong first half and led 24-0 at the break. Like the Racers, Presbyterian is an FCS program. The Cardinals are a Power 5 program with much more depth and more talent. Plus, the Murray State program is not on par with some of the better FCS teams like North Dakota State and reigning FCS champion South Dakota State. Over the last five full seasons (not counting 2020’s 5-2 spring season), Murray State has had exactly one winning season. The Racers went 6-5 in 2021.
Louisville made its biggest comeback in eight years in the win over Georgia Tech. The Cardinals trailed by 15 at the half and ended up winning by five. It’s been a while since a Louisville team has done that. The Cardinals have struggled some recently, though they did go 8-5 last year under Scott Satterfield, now the head coach at Cincinnati. Satterfield’s four seasons produced a pretty mediocre 26-24 mark.
When these two teams last faced off in 2017, the Cardinals held a 14-6 advantage over the Racers. Louisville also owned an 11-4 record against the Racers at home. The last time Murray State beat Louisville, the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) didn’t exist. There were NCAA Division I-A programs, like Louisville, and NCAA Division I-AA programs like Murray State. The Racers beat the Cardinals in 1984 and have not defeated an FBS opponent since.
Prior to its win last week, Murray State had lost 10 straight. The Racers have lost 20 straight road games and they are just 1-4 ATS in their last five. Louisville is 7-2 SU in its last nine games and the Cardinals have covered the spread in six of those nine games. They are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games. The Under is 5-1 in their last six. The only game in the last six to go Over was last week’s win against Georgia Tech.
Join Oskeim Sports today and save 20% on your first purchase at the online store!