Coming off a huge win over No. 2 Miami last weekend in South Florida, the Louisville football team was expected to roll over Boston College on Saturday night at home. For over three quarters of the game, it wasn't going that way. In fact, the Eagles closed to within 31-24 in the fourth quarter.
A Louisville loss at home to BC would have been a worst-case scenario for Virginia Tech, with the Cardinals scheduled to visit Blacksburg on Saturday afternoon. In the thick of the ACC race for a berth in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte in early December, a loss would have all but knocked them out.
Louisville was able to fend off the scrappy 1-6 Eagles for a 38-21 victory. That troubling evening at home didn't affect the line much, as expected, when it comes to the next weekend battle at Lane Stadium.
Virginia Tech opens as a double-digit underdog at home against Louisville
According to DraftKings, Virginia Tech opens as a 10.5 underdog against Louisville on Saturday afternoon. Virginia Tech comes into the game off a double overtime win over California on Friday night at home after their first of two byes this season. Oddly enough, they'll get their second bye after this game before a trip to Florida State on Nov. 15.
Virginia Tech being a double-digit underdog is not surprising. The Cardinals feature an explosive offense, led by USC transfer quarterback Miller Moss and running back Isaac Brown. Louisville has no room for error in the ACC this year after suffering a loss at home to Virginia earlier this month.
It'll be interesting to see how both teams respond to their games this weekend, with the Hokies collecting an emotional double overtime win, while Louisville escaping Boston College at home was not on a lot of people's bingo cards when the weekend began.