The State of Louisville

Gameday Central: Storylines, predictions Louisville football vs. Boston College


Louisville football looks to rebound against Boston College with its back against the wall. Everything to know for the Cards and the Eagles.

Louisville football has its back against the wall once again and it’s up to head coach Scott Satterfield and company to punch their way out.

Local band Cage the Elephant had a hit “Back Against the Wall”, a grungy banger about a man stuck between a rock and a hard place.

There are plenty of interpretations to the song but the narrative is essentially this; Man makes mistakes, man tries to run from his past, ultimately man has to face his demons because there is simply no other way.

“I’m stuck here in between the shadows of my yesterday
I wanna get away, I need to get away
You know. Yeah, you got my back against the wall
Oh, God, I ain’t got no other place to hide”

After another two-game skid from Louisville football, this feels like the narrative once again for Satterfield, doesn’t it?

After a lackluster start to the season, Satt faced a make-or-break situation against a fully healthy UCF squad. With his back against the wall, Louisville surprised most by coming out and looking competent on both sides of the ball and winning a wild shootout with one of the better QBs in the country on the other sideline.

Louisville followed the UCF victory up with a near-perfect first half against Florida State.

Since then, UofL has regressed in some areas- Namely, in its ability to hang on to leads.

The Cardinals had every opportunity to put away a still undefeated Wake Forest squad on the road. It didn’t happen.

Then, the Virginia game; A complete and utter collapse after leading 30-13 with 12 minutes left in the game.

“Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah, You’ve got my back against the wall”

Entering Saturday’s match-up with Boston College, the narrative feels much the same as the UCF game. Satterfield and co. had every opportunity to solidify this squad as an ACC contender, a lock as a bowl team, perhaps a top-25 squad, and much more. Instead, Louisville football faces a must-win scenario hoping to gain momentum before a date with No. 18 NC State next week.

Stuck between the shadows of his yesterday, Satterfield has to deliver again.

Let’s preview the Cards and the Eagles.

1st down: What to know

Who: Boston College at Louisville
Where: Cardinal Stadium (62,500) | Louisville, KY
When: 10/23/21 at 4:00 PM
TV: ACCN
Radio: 840AM WHAS in Louisville
Pregame and pre-pre-game on 93.9 FM in Louisville
Last Meeting: Boston College won 34-27 in 2020 in Chestnut Hill
Series: Louisville leads 7-6

Spread Check: Louisville -5 (Opened -9)
Thread Check:

Get Hyped:


2nd Down: What to Watch For

Boston College: Can the Eagles defense hold up

Boston College suffered a major loss when star quarterback Phil Jurkovec went out for the season with a hand injury against UMass.

BC’s back-up, Dennis Grosel, has been average in his absence, throwing for 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

What has kept BC in most games this season is a solid defense, guided by a solid back 7.

Jaiden Woodbey and Isaiah Graham-Mobley lead the way in tackles for the Eagles. Can they hold down the fort against probably the best offense it has seen all season? BC holds opponents to 19.5 points per game. The Eagles will probably have to keep the Cards around that number on Saturday.

Louisville: Can the Cards maintain a lead

The narrative for Louisville football is simple: Hold a lead and the Cardinals can compete with anyone.

Since being shut out in the first quarter against Ole Miss, Louisville football has been fantastic on the offensive end. Quarterback Malik Cunningham is playing the best football of his career. His tandem of wide receivers led by big-play freak Tyler Harrell has been perfectly complemented by the ground attack this year.

Louisville is going to score points. The Cards will get chunk yardage on big plays, keep feeding the hot hand on the ground (last time out, it was Hassan Hall), and move the ball effectively.

The issues lie at the feet of the Louisville football defense. Louisville’s inability to get teams off the field and consistently create pressure in the opposing backfield allowed Wake and Virginia to stay in and ultimately win games against the Cards.

Louisville has to find a way to get stops late or this trend feels destined to seal the Cards’ fate.


Third Down: What they’re saying

“I wish I brought a little more pressure, especially on that last drive. We brought some pressure throughout the fourth quarter, but that last drive is what (Satterfield) was mainly talking about,” he said. “Especially when the guys are backed up a little bit, and not just playing coverage.”

– Louisville DC Bryan Brown

“The speed of the quarterback. When you look at it first, it looks like it’s a whole bunch of stuff, but they just kind of formation you and give you the different looks and run the same plays, just like everybody else. What’s different about them is just the speed of the quarterback. You think you have a play stopped and you’re covered and then all of a sudden you look up and you’re trying to figure out why the ball’s not thrown and he’s 20 yards downfield running. That’s the challenge.

“Trust me, their backs are really good players. Really good players. The tight end (Marshon Ford) is a solid guy who’s caught a lot of balls. The two receivers, there’s more than two, they got two guys that can fly. One and 11 do a good job also and then they have some big guys. I think they might be the most athletic offense that I’ve seen on tape. But can’t say enough about Cunningham.”

Boston College HC Jeff Hafley

“You got to close games out, and that’s one thing we didn’t do. Whether it was from a player standpoint, and my standpoint as well on the last drive. The fourth quarter in general, we got to finish games, and I have to do a better job of making sure that our guys are prepared in every single situation.”

– Louisville DC Bryan Brown


Fourth Down: Freak Time, prediction time

Presley Meyer: Louisville 42, Boston College 26
Alan Thomas: Louisville 34, Boston College 26
Brian Trent: Louisville 42, Boston College 38
Spencer Brown: Boston College 41, Louisville 28
Matt McGavic: Louisville 35, Boston College 31
Jacob Lane: Louisville 28, Boston College 27
Nick Conner: Boston College 30, Louisville 28

Next: Why Louisville football coaches must own up to obvious play-calling issues

About the Author

Presley Meyer

Founder, Editor, and Creative Director | Born and raised in Louisville, Presley is a former student-athlete and graduate of Louisville Male and The University of Louisville.

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