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Expert Picks
This bowl game features a storyline of betrayal, as former Louisville coach Scott Satterfield, who was rumored to be on the hot seat much of the year, instead turned things around and bolted to Cincinnati before the bowl. But the Cardinals appear to be all right with beloved alum Jeff Brohm returning to take the reins. Expect fairly high motivation levels from both sides, which have enough playmakers to send this Over the total.
Both head coaches have vamoosed. Ditto both starting QBs. All departures and scratches are not created equal. Cincinnati's interim, Kerry Coombs, has worked in the NFL and served as a coordinator at Ohio State. Deion Branch was hired by Louisville before the season as director of player development and alumni relations. The former Cardinals WR star is essentially new to coaching. Regarding QBs, there's a bigger drop-off from NFL-bound Malik Cunningham for Louisville to his backup than from injured Ben Bryant to his understudy. The offenses -- at least when fully staffed -- are about equal. The Bearcats' defense is superior to the Cards', and possible nasty weather will magnify the defenses' influence.
Fenway Bowl. This game is so bizarre because both will have interim coaches with Louisville's Scott Satterfield leaving for Cincinnati. It's the last game in the AAC for the Bearcats, while UofL has lost most of its offense to the draft in quarterback Malik Cunningham, running back Tiyon Evans and wide receiver Tyler Hudson.