For the first two years of his tenure with Virginia, coach Tony Elliott’s clubs looked among the least prepared in all of college football, and it was borderline stunning that Elliott was invited back for a third go-round following a 6-16 run in two seasons. However, the Cavaliers are off to a 4-1 start that includes two comeback wins from two-score deficits against Wake Forest and Boston College. Louisville comes off a rugged stretch that includes back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and SMU in one-score contests. But this is still a solid club that should get back on track against a Virginia team that should be headed to a regression phase.

Louisville was without a few injured starters for Saturday's loss at SMU and lost another one in left tackle Monroe Mills, who will not play at least this week. He was Louisville's highest-graded offensive lineman per Pro Football Focus at 68.3. Virginia is a surprising 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC. UVA has not turned the ball over in back-to-back games for the first time since 2019. Only like this with the hook. The Wahoos are 10-4 ATS in their past 14.