Washington Huskies vs Louisville Cardinals Picks and Predictions December 31st 2024

Washington Huskies vs Louisville Cardinals December 31st 2024

At 2:00 ET on Tuesday, December 31st, the Louisville Cardinals and Washington Huskies will face off on a neutral site at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. The game is being televised by CBS, and the Cardinals are coming in as the -5-point favorites. The over/under line is currently set at 50.5 points. The money line odds are -192 for Louisville and +160 for Washington. The Huskies are 6-6 on the season, while the Cardinals have an 8-4 record.

Louisville vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Cardinals at Huskies
• Where: Sun Bowl El Paso
• Date: Tuesday, December 31st
• Betting Odds LOU -192 | WASH +160 O/U 50.5

The Cardinals Can Win If…

Louisville comes into their Week 1 game against Washington with an 8-4 record. They’ve gone 4-2 on the road and 3-2 at home this season. The Cardinals have been favored in eight of their 12 games, posting a 6-2 record as the favorite.

Louisville’s average scoring margin this season is +13.3 points, and they are 5-6 against the spread. At home, they’ve gone 3-2 ATS, while their road record is 2-4. As the favorite, they are 4-4 against the spread.

The Cardinals’ over/under record is 7-4, with their games averaging 59.8 points. The average over/under line for their games has been 55.3 points, and this week’s line is set at 50.5 points.

Louisville’s offense is averaging 36.6 points per game, placing them 12th in the nation, and they are ranked 8th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 11. Tyler Shough has thrown for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions, with a passer rating of 101. As a team, Louisville is 23rd in passing yards per game, averaging 272.4 yards.

Isaac Brown leads the rushing attack with 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 7 yards per carry. Louisville is 41st in rushing yards per game, with 187.7 yards. Ja’Corey Brooks has 1,013 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 61 catches.

Louisville’s defense played well against Kentucky, allowing just 14 points while forcing three interceptions. They gave up 328 total yards, including 155 rushing yards on 33 attempts and 173 passing yards.

For the season, Louisville’s defense ranks 35th nationally, allowing 23.2 points per game. They’ve given up 224.7 passing yards per game (102nd) and 136.2 rushing yards per game.

• Spanning across their last three games, Louisville have gone 2-1. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 2-1.
• The Louisville Cardinals have gone 6-4 over their last ten regular season games. In these contests, the team went just 4-6 against the spread, while going 6-4 on the over-under.

The Huskies Can Win If…

Washington enters Week 13 against Louisville with a 6-6 record. They’ve been strong at home, going 5-1, but are winless on the road at 0-5. The Huskies have been favored in five games this season, posting a 4-1 record as the favorite, while they are 1-5 as the underdog. Their average scoring margin for the season is -0.3 points per game.

Against the spread, Washington is 4-7 overall, with a 4-2 record at home and 0-5 on the road. As the favorite, they are 3-2 ATS, while they’ve gone 1-5 ATS as the underdog.

The over/under for this week’s game is set at 50.5 points. Washington’s average over/under line this season has been 47.8 points, and their games have averaged 45.3 points. They are 4-7 against the over/under, with seven games having lower lines than this week’s total.

Washington’s offense has been centered around their passing game, ranking 19th in completions and averaging 252.3 yards per game. They are 45th in passing attempts, and 80th in scoring, with 22.5 points per game. Heading into week 10, they are 52nd in our offensive power rankings.

Will Rogers has thrown for 2,458 yards, with a passer rating of 99. He has 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Jonah Coleman has rushed for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. Denzel Boston leads the receivers with 807 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Washington’s defense will look to bounce back after allowing 49 points in their recent loss to Oregon. The Huskies gave up 469 total yards, including 283 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Despite the rough game, Washington’s defense ranks 11th nationally in passing yards allowed, giving up just 166.8 yards per game. Opponents have completed 55% of their passes, while averaging 159.2 rushing yards per game against the Huskies.

• Through their last three games, the Washington Huskies have a record of 3-0. In terms of betting, the team went 3-0 ATS in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
• Across Washington’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 9-1. Across these games, their ATS record was just 7-3, while posting an over-under record of 3-7.

The Lean

Washington is the +5 point underdog at home in their week one matchup against Louisville. We have Washington winning straight-up, with a final score of 23-20, making them a great bet to cover the spread.

With the over/under line at 50.5 points, our projection of 43 combined points suggests that taking the under is the best play.

Louisville Cardinals and Washington Huskies Gear Up for a Thrilling Sun Bowl Matchup

The Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, is just around the corner, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting showdown between two teams trying to navigate big changes. The Louisville Cardinals and the Washington Huskies are both missing some key players, but that just means it’s time for fresh faces to step up and make their mark.

Louisville Cardinals: Making It Work Without Big Names

The Cardinals (8-4) had a solid season, putting up an average of 36.6 points per game, but let’s be real—they’ve got some serious shoes to fill in this game. Starting quarterback Tyler Shough, wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, and defensive standouts Ashton Gillotte and Quincy Riley are all sitting this one out as they prep for the NFL draft. On top of that, a couple of other players,/ including backup QB Pierce Clarkson, hit the transfer portal.

The running game remains their strongest asset, with freshman standouts Isaac Brown and Duke Watson leading the charge. Brown has been a breakout star, racking up 1,074 rushing yards with a stunning 7.3 yards per carry, while Watson wasn’t far behind, averaging 9.0 yards per carry on his way to 514 yards. Wide receiver Caullin Lacy is back in action after being sidelined most of the season by injuries. He’s ready to step into Brooks’ role, and his timing couldn’t be better as the Cardinals need experience in the lineup.

At quarterback, senior Harrison Bailey will get the start. While he hasn’t seen much playing time this season, completing just eight passes, his experience at Tennessee and UNLV gives him a veteran presence under center. Louisville’s head coach Jeff Brohm isn’t just focused on this game but also on the future of his program. “It’s important that they do play well if they want to get a position for next year,” he said, making it clear this game doubles as an audition for many young players.

Washington Huskies: Time to End on a High Note

The Huskies (6-6) had a rollercoaster season in their Big Ten debut under first-year head coach Jedd Fisch. After finishing the regular season with a tough loss to Oregon, they now have a chance to close the year on a positive note.

Freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is stepping into the spotlight, and he has plenty of support on offense. Running back Jonah Coleman rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, while wide receiver Denzel Boston has been a consistent playmaker with 807 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

However, the team faces challenges with several players entering the transfer portal, including running back Cameron Davis and linebacker Khmori House. The roster adjustments have stretched their depth but also opened the door for younger players to shine. Fisch sees this game as a reward for the team’s hard work and a chance to embrace a “championship mentality.”

What to Watch For

Louisville’s powerful running game will likely be the focal point of their offense, especially with questions surrounding their quarterback situation. Expect Isaac Brown and Duke Watson to carry the load and test Washington’s defense. On the other side, Washington’s offense has been inconsistent, averaging just 22.5 points per game, but they have the talent to surprise. If Demond Williams Jr., Jonah Coleman, and Denzel Boston hit their stride, Louisville’s defense will have its hands full.

This matchup isn’t just about the scoreboard—it’s about setting the tone for next season. Both teams are using this game as an opportunity to evaluate talent, test strategies, and show fans what the future holds.

The Bottom Line

The Sun Bowl might not have all the big names this year, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a blast to watch. Both Louisville and Washington are bringing fresh energy, young talent, and something to prove. Whether it’s Louisville’s explosive running backs or Washington’s rising stars on offense, there’s plenty of excitement on the table.

So grab your snacks, settle in, and get ready for a game full of resilience, opportunity, and the future of college football. It’s going to be a fun one.