Louisville (2-7, 0-6 ACC) at No. 13 Syracuse (7-2, 4-2, No. 13 CFP), 7 p.m. EST (ESPN2)
Line: Syracuse by 21.
Series Record: Louisville leads 10-6.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Syracuse is unbeaten at home and a win would complete the Orange’s fourth undefeated season at home since the Carrier Dome opened in 1980 and keep them in the running for a first-tier bowl game. A Syracuse victory also would be another strike against Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, whose future at the school is teetering on the brink.
KEY MATCHUP
The Louisville offense against the Syracuse defense. The Cardinals rank 112th in the nation in total offense, averaging 344.7 yards per game. The Orange defense is allowing 28.1 points per game and ranks 12th in the ACC in total defense, allowing 432.2 yards per game. Syracuse does have 12 interceptions and 27 sacks, both figures tied for third in the league, and ranks third nationally in third-down defense (.289), averaging 5.55 three-and-outs per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LOUISVILLE: RB Hassan Hall had 273 all-purpose yards, including a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in last week’s lopsided loss to No. 2 Clemson.
SYRACUSE: Dual-threat QB Eric Dungey has 10,340 total yards of offense in his career, just the eighth player in ACC history to surpass the 10,000-yard mark. The senior, who has averaged 295.4 yards of total offense in his four years, is just behind Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, who had 10,363 yards from 2010-13.
FACTS & FIGURES
Louisville has won all four meetings against the Orange since joining the ACC, including 56-10 last season at home. … Dungey is one of four active FBS quarterbacks with more than 7,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. … Louisville is allowing 466.3 yards per game, 115th in the nation, and has struggled against the run, allowing 277.4 yards per game to rank 127th. … Syracuse WR Sean Riley’s average of 16 yards per punt return ranks third nationally. Louisville’s Rodjay Burns (16.4) is second. … The Cardinals are trying to avoid their first seven-game losing streak since 1964, and a loss would equal the second-longest conference losing streak in school history.
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