No. 5 Louisville (7-1, 5-1 ACC, No. 7 CFP) at Boston College (4-4, 1-4), Noon (ESPN2)
Line: Louisville by 24 ½.
Series record: Louisville leads 5-3.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Louisville is still in need of help from Clemson to get back into the ACC title game and College Football Playoff picture, but the Cardinals also could use a dominating performance after squeaking by at Virginia last week. Boston College is hoping to carry over some momentum after picking up its first ACC win since 2014 last week.
KEY MATCHUP
Louisville and Heisman Trophy candidate Lamar Jackson pit an offense ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring offense (50 ppg) and total offense (603.2 ypg) against a Boston College defense ranked No. 1 in the ACC and seventh nationally in total defense, allowing just 298.5 yards per contest.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Louisville: It begins and ends with Jackson, who enters the game with 3,520 yards of total offense on the season to go with 38 total touchdowns (22 passing, 16 rushing). He is 4 yards short of becoming the first quarterback in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Boston College: DE Harold Landry is putting up some of the best numbers of his Eagles’ career this season. He currently is tied for the national lead for sacks with nine, and also is tied for the NCAA lead with five forced fumbles.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Cardinals have won the last three meetings. But they have split the four meetings at BC’s Alumni Stadium. … A win would mark the first time Louisville has started 8-1 since 2013. … With two interceptions against Virginia last week, Louisville CB Jaire Alexander is second nationally with five. … Cardinals TE Cole Hikutini has caught 24 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown over the last four games … This is the first time since 1993 that Boston College has hosted two top-five ranked opponents in the same season. … Boston College’s defense is ranked fourth in rushing (93.6 ypg) and 14th in sacks (3.13 per game). … QB Patrick Towles, a graduate transfer from Kentucky, has faced Louisville twice in his career, losing both times.
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