LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A return to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game is out of the question for the University of Louisville football team.
The Cardinals (4-3) have been forced to rearrange their season goals to quality for the best bowl trip possible and a winning record.
The task became more difficult Wednesday when the news arrived that talented receiver Caullin Lacy would sit out the remainder of the season to preserve his redshirt status so he can continue his college career next year — elsewhere or at U of L.
In only four games after returning from a broken collarbone, Lacy became U of L's third-leading receiver. Louisville will also play BC without its fourth leading receiver, tight end Jamari Johnson, who is out for the year with an ankle injury.
Louisville is booked for Game Eight at Boston College.
The Time: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Alumni Stadium (44,500); Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
How to Watch/Listen: TV — ESPN2 (Anish Shroff, play by play; Andre Ware, analyst; Paul Carcaterra, sidelines.) RADIO — Louisville Sports Network, 93.9 FM (Paul Rogers, play by play; Craig Swabek, analyst; Jody Demling, sidelines.)
The Line: Point spread Louisville favored by 7.5; Over/under total points 53.5.
The Last Time: Louisville thumped BC, 56-28, last season at L&N Cardinal Stadium as Jack Plummer passed for 588 yards and 5 touchdowns in his best performance of the season.
The Series: Louisville leads 9-7 but the Cards have lost their last three trips to BC.
The Records: After starting 4-1, BC is riding a two-losing streak, stumbling against Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Eagles's other defeat was at Missouri. Louisville is also 4-3, after losing three of its last four to Notre Dame, SMU and Miami. All three defeats have been by seven points.
Player to Watch for Louisville: Receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce. With Lacy out, the Cards need a receiver to step forward. Huggins-Bruce is a perfect candidate. He delivered one of the best games of his career last season against Boston College, catching three passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Bruce has yet to catch a touchdown pass this season.
Player to Watch for BC: Quarterback Thomas Castellanos. As good as Bruce was against BC last season, Castellanos was better against Louisville. He threw for 265 yards with three scores and no interceptions as BC scored 28 points. Castellanos has 14 TD passes and only four picks this season and has also run for 161 yards and a score.
Sideline Storylines:
- BC is coached by Bill O'Brien, the former head coach at Penn State and the Houston Texans. O'Brien also served as Nick Saban's offensive coordinator at Alabama. After a fast start, BC ranks 13th in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense.
- In does not figure to be an intimidating atmosphere in Chestnut Hill. BC ranks 14th in the ACC and 67th in the nation in home attendance, averaging announced crowds of 41,488. BC did sell out its second home game against Michigan State, which was the program's second sellout in six seasons.
- BC defensive end Donovan Eziruaku ranks third in the nation and second in the ACC with nine sacks.
- BC fell behind Virginia Tech 28-0 last week before rallying to cut the margin to 28-21 in the third quarter. The Eagles lost 42-21.
- The 45 points Louisville scored against Miami last week were the most points the Cardinals have scored in a non-overtime loss in program history.
- In Louisville's four victories, the Cards have allowed an average of 13.3 points. The three defeats, the number is 39 points.
- Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough has thrown for 2016 yards and 18 touchdowns in seven games. Those are both career highs for Shough.
- Louisville receiver Ja'Corey Brooks has delivered three 100-yard receiving games. He ranks second in the ACC in receiving yards with 679, only 7 behind Xavier Restrepo of Miami.
The Quote: BC coach O'Brien on his familiarity with one of Louisville's top offensive players:en.
"I coached Ja'Corey (Brooks) for two years at Alabama. He's a great player, transferred to Louisville and they've got a good running game and he does a good job. They've been in some really close games."
The Pick: Louisville 28, Boston College 24.
Louisville Football Coverage:
- Louisville wide receiver Caullin Lacy expected to opt out of rest of the season
- BOZICH | Will bowl eligibility be the trophy at Governor's Cup for Louisville, Kentucky?
- CRAWFORD | Louisville's big plays can't overcome Miami, Ward in 52-45 loss
Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All rights reserved.
