Louisville Cardinals Prepare to Face Duke Blue Devils in Week 9 Showdown
The Duke Blue Devils are facing a major question mark at quarterback as they head into Week 9 of the college football season. Riley Leonard, their starting quarterback, left their recent loss to the Florida State Seminoles in the second half, and the team struggled without him. Although Duke managed to secure a win against the NC State Wolfpack two weeks ago without Leonard, their upcoming opponents, the Louisville Cardinals, present a tougher challenge.
The Cardinals have emerged as one of the most surprising teams in the FBS this season. They currently find themselves in a four-way tie for second place in the ACC, with one conference loss, and have their sights set on a potential ACC Championship Game appearance against Florida State. However, their journey to this point has not been without obstacles. In Week 7, they suffered a 17-point road loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers, just one week after a thrilling victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In order to remain in contention for the conference title, Louisville must recapture the form they displayed in the Notre Dame win and in their previous five victories.
A key factor in Louisville’s success against Duke will be the performance of their quarterback, Jack Plummer. Plummer has had a solid season thus far, but he needs to avoid mistakes against a tough Duke defense. With eight interceptions and 15 sacks to his name, he must be cautious with his decision-making and protect the football. The Cardinals will be relying on Plummer to outplay Duke’s potential backup quarterback, Henry Belin IV, who showed promise with two touchdown passes against NC State but struggled with accuracy, completing just four of his 12 passes.
If Leonard does not recover in time for the game, Duke’s offensive struggles could ultimately determine the outcome. Louisville has the ability to pressure Belin in the pocket, potentially rendering Duke’s offense ineffective. Moving the ball will be a challenge for the Blue Devils if they are unable to establish a strong passing game.
As both teams prepare for this crucial matchup, it is important to remember the responsibility of responsible gambling. If you or someone you know is facing a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services are available. Help can be accessed by calling the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-GAMBLER or visiting their website at www.ncpgambling.org.
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In what promises to be an exciting Week 9 showdown, the Louisville Cardinals and the Duke Blue Devils will battle it out on the field. Both teams have a lot at stake, and it remains to be seen which squad will emerge victorious.
Original Story at bleacherreport.com – 2023-10-23 11:00:51
