Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Louisville Cardinals Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 23rd 2024
Preview and Prediction
Squads eager to move past recent defeats will take the field on Saturday as the Louisville Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Louisville (6-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) is back in action after a disappointing loss to Stanford, where they allowed 10 points in the final 45 seconds, resulting in a 38-35 upset.
The Cardinals were knocked out of this week's College Football Playoff rankings when the selection committee released them on Tuesday night.
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The Panthers (7-3, 3-3) also suffered a heartbreaking loss in their last game, with then-No. 20 Clemson scoring a touchdown with just 1:16 remaining to secure a 24-20 victory. Despite outgaining their opponents 438-346, Pitt struggled with turnovers and allowed eight sacks. Additionally, coach Pat Narduzzi's team racked up a season-high 13 penalties for 100 yards, including three in a row during a crucial third-and-goal situation.
Like Pitt, Louisville also struggled with penalties in their last game, committing a season-high 13 for 102 yards. These flags negated two interceptions and a sack, and gave Stanford a second chance for a two-point conversion. Ultimately, these penalties proved costly as Stanford was able to secure the win with a 52-yard field goal as time expired.
During a press conference on Monday, Louisville coach Jeff Brohm acknowledged the pain of the loss and encouraged his players to use it as motivation for future games.
"We feel the sting of the loss, and it's important to let that drive us to not let it happen again," Brohm stated.
Pitt may not know until the end of the week whether starting quarterback Eli Holstein will be able to play. Holstein suffered a head injury in their loss to Virginia two weeks ago, and backup Nate Yarnell threw for 350 yards and a touchdown in his absence against Clemson.
The Panthers have been dealing with numerous injuries, particularly on the offensive line, which has resulted in a rotation and contributed to their high number of penalties.
Coach Narduzzi has been trying to limit practice time to preserve his players, but with the recent injuries, he has had to keep up the intensity in practice.
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"We haven't cut back on practice yet because we needed to work the last two weeks," Narduzzi explained.
Louisville may also be without freshman running back Isaac Brown, who left the Stanford game with a shoulder injury. Brown, who currently ranks second in FBS with 7.4 yards per carry, is a key player for the Cardinals and his potential absence could have a significant impact on the game.