Villanova Football Preview: Ranked on the Road Against Louisville

Villanova Football will face perhaps their toughest matchup of the season when they travel to face the Louisville Cardinals at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. The Cardinals are ranked No. 24 in the FBS, dropping a 41-38 heartbreaker to No. 9 Ole Miss in their season opener; Villanova, ranked No. 18/No. 21 in the FCS, enters as a -36.5 point underdog. The ACC Network, which ESPN operates, will carry this broadcast.

DraftKings Sportsbook isn’t fielding money line bets, doubting the Wildcats’ ability to pull off a stunning road upset; ESPN Analytics has Louisville winning in 98.3 percent of their simulations. Villanova has struggled to put opponents away through their first two games of the season, allowing a 13 point comeback at home against William & Mary before narrowly surviving a second half push from Bucknell on the road. They’ll need to work out those kinks if they want to have any hope at victory.

Scouting the Cardinals

Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz transferred to Louisville after spending two seasons as a backup with Ohio State. The Pierre, S.D. native threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns against Ole Miss, completing 18 of 29 passes. Kienholz added 14 carries for 69 yards, running for a long of 41 and taking three sacks. Villanova has five sacks and 19 tackles for loss through two games this season, so a strong performance from their defensive line could prove critical in keeping things close against the Cardinals.

5-foot-10 Tre Richardson was Kinholz’s top target in the opener, hauling in four passes for 83 yards and a score. Most of that yardage came on one play, a wide open 62-yard touchdown off a busted coverage. Richardson added a 30-yard rushing touchdown on a jet sweep, giving the Cardinals a third quarter lead. With shaky play from the Wildcats’ secondary through their first two games of the season, Richardson’s speed and ability to break tackles could prove a major problem.

Lawayne McCoy added a 54-yard touchdown reception as Ole Miss forgot how to tackle, and TreyShun Hurry finished as Louisville’s second-leading receiver with four catches for 67 yards. The Cardinals’ rushing offense was more stagnant. Kienholz led them on the ground, with Keyjuan Brown’s seven carries for 56 yards the best of any of their backs.

Isaac Brown, who dealt with an injury in camp, got the majority of the carries but managed just 36 yards on 16 totes. The Cardinals’ offense picked up just one tackle for loss and no sacks, so Villanova’s veteran offensive line has a chance to even the playing field. They’ve got a dangerous secondary, however, with passes defensed: two came from senior Jabari Mack.

Scouting the Wildcats

Villanova has had a feast-or-famine offense through their first two games, marching downfield at will before falling silent for troubling stretches… or making back-breaking mistakes. Quarterback Pat McQuaide threw three interceptions in the season opener, although one of them was the result of a pass that receiver Braden Reed tipped over the middle.

Mistakes spiraled at Bucknell, where a combination of three-and-outs and the defense’s inability to get off the field turned into a furious feedback loop that nearly resulted in a loss. On the season, McQuaide is averaging 244 yards per game: he’s completed 30 of 50 passes, tossing three touchdowns and three picks.

When the Wildcats’ offense is at their best, they’re making steady gains on the ground with option plays. Isaiah Ragland (27 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns) leads the team in rushing, but Ja’briel Mace (24 carries for 127 yards and a score) is right behind him.

They’ve showed potential through the air, with McQuaide finding Reed (eight catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns), Jake Hilton (six catches for 158 yards) and Brandon Binkowski (seven catches for 127 yards and a score) on vertical shots, but the passing offense still needs to gel. Penalties are another issue, with 20 for 152 yards through two games.

Defensively, linebacker Omari Bursey leads the nation with 29 tackles (16 solo), including 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Ratu Delano Navoti has two more sacks, but the Wildcats’ secondary has struggled when their pass rush doesn’t get home.