LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville football program is heading back in the right direction. They might have needed a fourth quarter comeback to escape Charlottesville with a 24-20 win over Virginia, but it was still a much needed victory that snapped a two-game skid.

Next up on the docket, the Cardinals are returning home for a massive showdown against No. 6 Miami. Kickoff against the Hurricanes is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

We still have a few days until the Cardinals do battle against the Canes, but thanks to the video game ‘EA Sports College Football 25,’ we have some idea of how the contest might pan out.

In our CFB25 Preview Series during the preseason, Louisville was able to outlast Miami in a thriller, winning 40-38 in triple overtime. Since then, the ratings for both sides have been slightly adjusted from what they were on launch day.

Louisville is now regarded as an 88 overall team with an 83 offensive rating and an 86 defense rating, while Miami stands at an 90 overall with a 91 offensive rating and an 86 defensive rating. At launch, the Cardinals were an 85 overall with an 84 offensive rating and an 82 defensive rating, while the Hurricanes were an 88 overall with an 89 offensive rating and a 84 defensive rating.

So how does College Football 25 have the game between Louisville and Miami playing out now with kickoff just a few days away? Check out the Cardinals vs. the Hurricanes in a CPU controlled matchup below, with time stamps for each segment of the game:

(Photo via Sam Navarro – Imagn Images)

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South Florida Swifties are counting down to Taylor’s Miami stop this weekend and a young fan and her father are on a mission.

A heart condition has threatened 14-year-old Demi Espinosa’s life and she is one of the lucky fans to score tickets to Swift’s Saturday show.

Now, she and her family are hoping to get Taylor’s attention for a coveted moment.

“She was given three days to live at birth, so she was baptized at birth, and she just kept defying the odds. And that’s what she’s done her whole life,” said Demi’s father, Danny Espinosa.

Call Demi a teenage Swiftie, but not your average one. She’s a heart warrior, born with a rare heart defect that affects her lungs and has kept her in and out of the hospital. She’s even been on life support.

“She’s had 13 open hearts [surgeries] to date, and yes, we had some complications, and lost two thirds of her right lung. But she’s kicking butt,” said Danny Espinosa.

They’ve endured setbacks, as she’s lost her ability to walk, experienced several code blues, and has had to travel to California for procedures. Danny Espinosa says someone who has helped his daughter along the way is global pop star Taylor Swift.

“The only thing that was working for physical therapy was Taylor Swift songs. So, I became a Swiftie and a softie in this whole process,” said Demi’s dad.

“She inspired me when I was in a hospital. She like, motivated me to continue fighting, healing and I can walk again,” Demi said.

While Demi still has more procedures to go later this year, she’s using that same fighting spirit for Taylor in Miami. The “Eras Tour” returns to the United States this weekend, kicking off at Hard Rock Stadium.

For more than a year, Danny and Demy have been campaigning on social media, sharing her seat number, and manifesting the “22” Hat.

The “22” hat has become a trademark during the “Eras Tour.” Swift gives away her hat to a lucky fan during the song “22.”

It’s a moment young girls like Demi dream about.

“That would be a once in a lifetime experience and I would love that,” she told NBC6.

“For her to be able to hug Taylor Swift, tell her she loves her and get that hat, wow, that would be unbelievable. But we’ve talked about it, the journey itself, that we’ve been on these 442 days with this process. That’s the win,” her father said.

For Demi being here is a win. She spreads her joy, optimism, courage and friendship bracelets with other sick children in the hospital.

“She’s like a little mini Taylor Swift except it’s Demi Espinosa,” said dad. “My biggest hope is that you have the best time of your life. You deserve it. You’ve worked so hard for it.”

Even if it’s just in her wildest dreams, maybe it’ll come with a little Swift miracle. Because it’s clear, Demi is no stranger to them.

ACC football returns to the gridiron this weekend as No. 6 Miami is back from its open week on the road against Louisville in college football’s Week 8 action. Let’s take a look at the latest prediction for the game from an expert football model that picks winners.

Miami is one of college football’s 11 undefeated teams this week, scoring over 38 points in each game and ranking 1st nationally in both scoring offense and average passing yardage.

Louisville was ranked before losing 2 straight games, at Notre Dame and at home against SMU, falling to 2-1 in ACC play, but rebounded last week with a 4 point victory against Virginia.

Looking ahead to this week’s matchup, let’s check out the latest college football predictions from the Football Power Index computer prediction model.

The model simulates every NCAA college football game 20,000 times and uses key analytics from both teams and picks winners based on a projected scoring margin per game.

So far, the simulations give a slight edge to the visiting team to stay perfect.

Miami is projected to win the game outright in the majority 55.4 percent of the computer’s most recent simulations for the matchup.

That leaves Louisville as the expected winner in the remaining 44.6 percent of sims.

In total, the Hurricanes came out ahead in 11,080 of the index’s simulations for the game, while the Cardinals won out in the other 8,920 predictions.

The index also projects a close result on the scoreboard.

Miami is projected to be just 2.1 points better than Louisville on the same field in both teams’ current composition, according to the model’s latest forecast.

If so, that wouldn’t be enough for the Hurricanes to cover the spread.

That’s because Miami is a 4.5 point favorite against Louisville, according to the lines at FanDuel Sportsbook.

FanDuel lists the total at 61.5 points for the game.

And it set the moneyline odds for Miami at -200 and for Louisville at +170 to win outright.

A plurality of bettors expect the Hurricanes will take care of the Cardinals on the road, according to the latest spread consensus picks for the game.

About 60 percent of bets project Miami will beat Louisville and cover the spread.

And the other 40 percent of wagers expect the Cardinals will either win in an upset, or keep the game within the narrow line.

Miami is first among ACC teams with a 72 percent chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff and will win 11.2 games this season, according to the FPI’s metrics.

The index suggests the Hurricanes are 17.7 points better than an average team on a neutral field, ranking No. 10 nationally.

That model gives Louisville a win total prediction of 7.8 games and lists the team as fifth in the ACC with a 7.9 percent shot at the playoff.

FPI forecasts the Cardinals will be 14.1 points better than an average team on a neutral field, good for 16th nationally.

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance. 

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season and games, using a combination of key analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, team talent, recruiting, and a team’s schedule.

Teams are ranked not in order of talent like in other rankings, but by a projected point margin per game against an average team on a neutral field.

First-place votes in parentheses

1. Texas (56)
2. Oregon (6)
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Georgia
6. Miami
7. Alabama
8. LSU
9. Iowa State
10. Clemson
11. Tennessee
12. Notre Dame
13. BYU
14. Texas A&M
15. Boise State
16. Indiana
17. Kansas State
18. Ole Miss
19. Missouri
20. Pittsburgh
21. SMU
22. Illinois
23. Army
24. Michigan
25. Navy

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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