First Responder Bowl Betting Guide: Louisville Cardinals vs. Air Force Falcons

The college football odds can sometimes be hard to decipher, and the First Responder Bowl is an example. Air Force leads the nation in rushing yards by a wide margin, but finds itself an underdog against a Louisville Cardinals team that has had the epitome of an up-and-down season.

• Game: Louisville Cardinals (6-6) vs. Air Force Falcons (9-3)
• Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas
• Date/Time: December 28, 3:15 p.m. ET
• Television: ESPN

Louisville Cardinals vs. Air Force Falcons

Betting Lines

Cardinal rule? Can’t find one with this bunch

Louisville ended the regular season a 52-21 loser to Kentucky as a three-point favorite. The Cardinals endured a coin-flip of a season, going 6-6 in the college football spreads and 5-7 in the over-unders with the high (including 57½ against Kentucky) hitting in its last two. Louisville was 2-3 in games decided by eight points or fewer. The Cardinals were 40th nationally in scoring at 31.9 points per game. For a team that didn’t qualify for a bowl game in 2020, the motivation should be there.

Injury Report

There are no major injuries to report pertaining to this game.

Players to Watch

Junior quarterback Malik Cunningham needs 266 yards passing, 32 yards rushing, two touchdown passes and one TD rushing to join Lamar Jackson as the only players in program history to pass for 3,000 yards, rush for 1,000, pass and run for 20 TDs each. Junior offensive lineman Caleb Chandler was an ACC first-team selection, part of a unit that allowed only 18 sacks. Sophomore tight end Marshon Ford has a team-high 47 catches.

Air Force? No, ground force

Air Force led the country with 340.8 rushing yards per game, well ahead of second-place Army’s 286.4. The Falcons have rushed the ball 91 straight times, including 69 (gaining 511) yards in a 48-14 victory over UNLV in their last game. Air Force is 8-4 against the spread when betting online after covering as an 18-point favorite. The Falcons are 3-0 ATS in their last three with those games all going over. Seven of Air Force’s first nine games stayed under. Military programs always seem motivated to play in a bowl game and this should be no exception.

Injury Report

There are no major injuries to report pertaining to this game.

Players to Watch

Junior running back Brad Roberts and senior offensive lineman Hawk Wimmer were Mountain West Conference first-team selections. Roberts, one of 20 Falcons with a carry this season, rushed for team highs 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Haaziq Daniels has attempted only 94 passes, but has rushed for 705 yards and nine TDs.

Betting on the Game

The programs have never met and did not have any common opponents. Louisville is 12-11 in bowl games, but its coach is undefeated. Scott Satterfield is 4-0 in bowls, the first three wins coming at Appalachian State. Satterfield led the Cardinals to a 38-28 triumph over Mississippi State in the 2019 Music City Bowl. The Falcons are 13-13-1 in bowls, including 5-5 under coach Troy Calhoun.

The key to this contest will be whether Louisville can slow down Air Force’s potent ground attack. The Cardinals sit in the bottom half of the 130 FBS teams in rushing yards allowed (156.7 per game). Louisville provides a balanced offensive attack, averaging 230.6 yards passing and 211.3 rushing. Conversely, the Falcons do not as they are second-last nationally with 82.5 passing yards per game. Air Force is seventh in rushing yards allowed and 20th in pass defense. The Falcons were an underdog only once this season. Air Force was getting three points when they won at Boise State, 24-17, Oct. 16. The numbers – except for the Las Vegas odds – seem to favor the Falcons.