Previewing the Friday night slate of college football includes a Florida State vs. Louisville prediction. But it doesn’t stop there. No, far from it. With sports betting taking over college football and college fantasy football on the rise, here is everything you need to know from current betting odds to DFS picks and fantasy football players to play in the Florida State vs. Louisville matchup.
Florida State vs. Louisville betting preview
- Spread: Florida State -2.5
- Moneyline: Florida State (-135); Louisville (+115)
- Over/Under: 57 points
- Game time: Friday, September 16, 2022 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky
- Predicted weather at kick: Partly cloudy, 72 degrees, 5 to 10 mph winds
Florida State vs. Louisville prediction
The Florida State Seminoles have pulled off a 2-0 start for the first time in what feels like decades. The Louisville Cardinals are 1-1, having lost their season opener in ugly fashion to Syracuse and outlasting UCF on Friday night a week ago. FSU beat up Duquense and blocked an extra point as time expired to defeat LSU to get to their 2-0 record.
Each program needs a victory, but for different reasons. FSU head coach Mike Norvell’s team has seemingly turned things around and appears headed in the right direction. A 1-0 start to conference play would further indicate that all appears right in Tallahassee.
Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield needs a win to stay even remotely alive in the ACC Atlantic — hopes were incredibly high for this Cardinals team to start the year. Fortunately for Cardinals fans, it appears that QB Malik Cunningham will once again be the focal point of this offense. Seminole fans are well aware of what mobile, dual-threat Louisville quarterbacks can do.
[bet-promo id=”149469″ ]However, this iteration of Florida State has a different feel to it. They stayed right around 2.5-point favorites all week long. And having a bye week after upsetting LSU in New Orleans nearly two weeks ago, they’ve gotten healthy at key positions. Jordan Travis has proven to be more than capable as a downfield passer. At times last week, UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee was able to throw on the Louisville cornerbacks in the intermediate range outside the numbers.
FSU’s stable of running backs should lighten the load against Louisville, and that will free up favorable matchups on the outside for the talented FSU receiving corps. Yaya Diaby is the ultimate wild card for Louisville’s defense. If the ‘Noles can take care of their assignments on the offensive line and mitigate Diaby’s influence on this game, FSU wins easily due to depth, talent, and a better quarterback so far in 2022.
Prediction: Florida State 37, Louisville 27
Top DFS picks and fantasy plays
With your DFS lineup in need of some serious juice during only a two-game Friday night slate, both quarterbacks are in play easily. Both Travis and Cunningham are the offensive players to select in this game. But before we go any further, it’s important to look at their current values on FanDuel.
- QB Jordan Travis, FSU: $10,700
- QB Malik Cunningham, Louisville: $10,000
- RB Treshaun Ward, FSU: $9,200
- RB Tiyon Evans, Louisville: $8,400
- RB Trey Benson, FSU: $6,900
- RB Lawrance Toafili, FSU: $6,200
- RB Jalen Mitchell, Louisville: $5,100
- RB Jawhar Jordan, Louisville: $4,900
- WR Ontaria Wilson, FSU: $9,500
- WR Tyler Hudson, Louisville: $8,100
- WR Johnny Wilson, FSU: $6,800
- WR Mycah Pittman, FSU: $6,500
- WR Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Louisville: $5,700
- TE Marshon Ford, Louisville: $5,500
- WR Deuce Spann, FSU: $5,400
- WR Braden Smith, Louisville: $5,300
- WR Kentron Poitier, FSU: $5,100
- TE Camren McDonald, FSU: $5,000
Both quarterbacks are in play for the Superflex spot, but odds are Air Force RB Brad Roberts is the safest play and would also require that position from the night’s other game action. So, for intents and purposes here, save the cash, and go with Cunningham — after the game against Louisville, Satterfield mentioned the need to “run Cunningham more.” If that’s the case, Cunningham is the easiest pick and in line to be a Superflex anytime they play moving forward. Play it cautiously — make him your QB1.
As far as running backs go, if you’re not playing Roberts in your Superflex, he’s definitely a player to ride in one of the running backs spots, leaving one vacancy. FSU’s backfield rotation makes it scary even if Ward gets the majority of the first share of touches. He fumbled on the goal line against LSU and could very well be in the dog house come game time.
Tiyon Evans has been the reliable threat for Louisville, while Jalen Mitchell does contribute out of the backfield in the passing game. If you need to save room, Mitchell is a low-value play in mind. But for now, Evans can be slid right into your lineup to ensure you get all the Louisville ground game in this one.
With three wide receiver spots open, Ontaria Wilson has been Travis’ No. 1, and Tyler Hudson has been the leading receiver in both of Louisville’s games so far this season, reaching the 100-yard plateau in the opener against Syracuse. Hudson makes for a decent play with a good value despite being heavily targeted. Both Marshon Ford and Camren McDonald are low-value plays to ensure you can afford your lineup as well.