The Louisville Cardinals (5-5, 3-4 ACC) visit the Duke Blue Devils (3-7, 0-6) Thursday at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Louisville vs. Duke odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Cardinals punished Syracuse 41-3 last week at home, leveling up at 5-5, and putting Louisville in position for bowl eligibility. A win is likely a lot more attainable this week than in an upcoming rivalry game Nov. 27 against Kentucky.
The Blue Devils opened the season 3-1 SU/ATS, but Duke has dropped six in a row while going 1-5 ATS. Duke is averaging just 14.5 PPG during the six-game skid while allowing 45 or more points in four consecutive outings.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Louisville at Duke odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 8:28 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Louisville -1100 (bet $1,100 to win $100) | Duke +650 (bet $100 to win $650)
- Against the spread (ATS): Louisville -20.5 (-110) | Duke +20.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 60.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Louisville at Duke odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Louisville 47, Duke 17
Money line
Louisville (-1100) will cost you 11 times your potential return, or a profit of just $9.09 on a $100 bet. That’s just too risky, no matter how likely a win looks.
PASS.
Against the spread
LOUISVILLE -20.5 (-110) is laying a pretty healthy number for a .500 team, but that’s how bad Duke has been during its six-game skid.
The Blue Devils are no longer eligible for a bowl, and look like they have thrown in the towel. To make matters worse, Duke QB Gunnar Holmberg (ribs) is uncertain to play due to a rib injury. Holmberg has been practicing, but if he can’t go then QBs Riley Leonard and Jordan Moore would likely both see time under center.
Over/Under
The OVER 60.5 (-112) is worth a small-unit play. Louisville should be able to add to the woes of the Duke defense, which has coughed up at least 45 points in four straight outings. The Blue Devils rank 129th in the FBS in both total yards allowed (500.1) and passing yards (304.8) per game, while yielding 36.8 PPG overall. QB Malik Cunningham and the Cards should be able to at least get into the 40s, if not higher.
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