Louisville vs. Villanova prediction, odds, time: 2026 Week 2 college football picks by expert on 7-3 run — SkimNews
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- Louisville Cardinals host Villanova Wildcats Friday at 7 p.m. ET at L&N Stadium in their 2026 home opener — the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- No. 24 Louisville (0-1) is a 37.5-point favorite over Villanova (1-1), with the over/under set at 56.5 total points.
- Louisville enters off a 41-38 loss at Ole Miss after going 9-4 overall (4-4 ACC) in 2025, while Villanova finished second in the Coastal Athletic Association at 12-3 and edged Bucknell 17-16 in Week 1.
- SportsLine expert Emory Hunt is on a 7-3 run over his past 10 college football picks, returning $358 to $100 players on top-rated CFB picks.
- Hunt's top play is Over 56.5 at -110, anchored by QB Lincoln Kienholz's 376 total yards (307 passing) in his first collegiate start and Louisville's nine plays of 20-plus yards against Ole Miss.
- Coach Jeff Brohm is 3-0 in Louisville home openers, part of the program's 71-33-3 all-time mark in season lid-lifters.
Why it matters: The 37.5-point spread reflects a massive gap between No. 24 Louisville and CAA-based Villanova, making the Over 56.5 the sharper play for bettors. Hunt's pick rests on Louisville's nine plays of 20-plus yards against Ole Miss and Kienholz's 376-yard debut — concrete indicators the Cardinals' offense produces in volume at home, regardless of which side covers the spread.
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