Maybe the wiseguys in Vegas should occasionally give us somewhat-wise guys here at AFP a call now and then.
The betting line for Louisville at #2 Miami started with the Hurricanes as 13.5-point favorites.
Not that I pay thisclose attention to the betting lines, but I did notice the line dropped to 10.5 points just before kickoff Friday night.
In case you missed it, I had this upset alert: Louisville 27, Miami 24.
ICYMI
OK, I wasn’t perfect.
The final score: Louisville 24, Miami 21.
As they say, “close enough for government work”.
Oops, I forgot, the government isn’t working.
No more gloating, now to the game.
Louisville picked off Miami’s multimillion-dollar quarterback, Carson Beck, four times to stun the second-ranked Hurricanes and end a 10-game home winning streak for The U.
The last team to beat Miami at home?
Louisville, in 2023.
Not that I had considered that fact when I called the upset Thursday.
The Cardinals opened the game by emptying the trick-play playbook on the Hurricanes.
And Miami responded poorly.
Louisville led 14-0 less than 10 minutes into the game, as UL coach Jeff Brohm played the Mad Scientist role on the sideline.
Three quarterbacks played during the first drive, and holder David Chapeau ran on a fake field goal on fourth-and-2 at the Miami 4.
Cardinals quarterback Miller Moss scored on the next play to complete an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive midway through the opening quarter.
On the next possession, Moss connected with star receiver Chris Bell on a 35-yard scoring strike. Bell finished with nine catches for 136 yards and two scores.
Just like that, it was 14-zip Louisville.
Miami did mount a comeback, of sorts.
After holding Louisville on downs, Miami got the ball back with 4:05 left at their own 15.
Beck moved the Hurricanes down the field before throwing his fourth pick of the evening at the Louisville 30 with just 32 seconds remaining.
If I’m a Hurricanes fan, I’m a bit troubled about how Miami coach Mario Cristobal managed that final drive.
It was almost like he was playing for a game-tying field goal instead of going for the win.
Hey, maybe that’s the reason Jeff Brohm is the ACC’s winningest coach the last three seasons.
Friday night football is working in the ACC
It happened again in the ACC on a Friday night.
Just three weeks ago, Virginia stunned Florida State in Charlottesville.
Friday, Louisville pulled another upset of a Sunshine State program with the win over Miami.
The 2025 college football season has had plenty of chaos, but few, outside of us somewhat wise guys here at the AFP, expected Louisville to lead from start to finish over the ‘Canes.
This game had everything you like about college football: big plays, tension drama, comebacks (near), and finally an upset.
Don’t look now, but the ACC is starting to turn some heads.
ACC regular-season chase is getting messy
Miami, you have a problem.
Even with just one conference loss, Miami may have played itself into a corner.
Here’s why: the Hurricanes do not play Duke, Georgia Tech or Virginia, all 3-0 in the conference. That’s not good for Miami.
A quick look at the Georgia Tech and UVA schedules, and it’s a distinct possibility that Miami doesn’t even make it to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game.
Hopefully, the windows at the ACC headquarters are all bolted shut.
The suits down in Charlotte have to be in dire straits. Remember, just a few weeks ago, the buzz around the league was that the ACC had finally achieved what it had been envisioning for two decades, a Miami-FSU championship game.
News flash: That isn’t happening in 2025.
Meanwhile, things are looking bright for Virginia and GT
Remember, the Yellow Jackets and Cavaliers do not play one another this season.
Here are Virginia’s remaining games:
- Washington State
- @North Carolina
- @California
- Wake Forest
- @Duke
- Virginia Tech
Virginia will likely be favored in all but the Duke game.
Does that make sense now?
Georgia Tech has a pretty direct path to Charlotte as well.
Georgia Tech’s remaining slate:
- @Duke
- Syracuse
- @NC State
- @ Boston College
- Pitt
It’s shaping up to be a November to Remember in the ACC.
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