The Louisville Cardinals' football season has taken a 180-degree turn over the past two weeks. Once a contender for the College Football Playoff, the Cardinals have now lost two straight and face the possibility of finishing the regular season with four consecutive losses.
That turn also has affected UofL’s bowl chances. At 7-3, the Cards will still go bowling, but back-to-back losses to California and Clemson – both at home, no less – mean lower-tier bowls are now possible destinations.
At BetKentucky.com, as part of our Kentucky college football betting season analysis, these are our exclusive odds on where the Cardinals will go bowling in 2025-26.
| Bowl, Location | Conference Opponent | Odds | Percent Chance |
| Pinstripe Bowl, New York | Big Ten | +250 | 28.6% |
| Military Bowl, Annapolis, MD | American | +350 | 22.2% |
| Duke’s Mayo, Charlotte | SEC | +500 | 16.7% |
| Pop-Tarts, Orlando | Big 12 | +700 | 12.5% |
| Other (Field) | +400 | 20.0% |
These odds are exclusive to BetKentucky.com as part of our Kentucky sports betting coverage; they will be updated all season.
Louisville is tied for seventh in the ACC standings at 4-3. While the standings do not dictate where an ACC team will go bowling, the conference could have up to a dozen bowl eligible teams.
With the recent losses, and the fact they’re 2.5-point underdogs at SMU this Saturday according to bet365 Kentucky sportsbook, the chances have increased that the Cards will land in New York or Annapolis in late December.
If Louisville defeats SMU and beats Kentucky in the regular-season finale, UofL’s chances for going to Charlotte or Orlando should increase.
There are many teams that would gladly trade places with Louisville. The Cardinals are 7-3, and their three losses are by a combined seven points. Two of those defeats came in overtime.
Yet, even with a win over Miami – plus victories over Pittsburgh and James Madison that look better by the week – there is a feeling of disappointment in the Derby City.
The closeness of the losses, as well as the comeback nature of several victories, indicates self-inflicted errors have played a key role in the season. Consider the following:
Of all the issues that have plagued Louisville’s offense this season, outside of injuries to running backs Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, the biggest has been turnovers. Louisville is tied for 94th among FBS schools with 15 giveaways.
Opponents have scored 70 points off of those turnovers. That’s nearly a third of the points Louisville has allowed this season. UofL’s 21.5 points-per-game allowed is tied for 39th nationally.
When Louisville fans look back at this season, the turnovers will be the biggest “what if?” question they’ll ask as a team that was likely good enough to earn a College Football Playoff berth will probably play its final game in the Bronx or Annapolis.
BetKentucky.com will keep updating these odds and offer the best Kentucky sports betting promos all season.
USA Today photo by Brett Davis
Year | Bowl | Result |
2024 | Sun Bowl | Win, 35-34 vs. Washington |
2023 | Holiday Bowl | Loss, 42-28 vs. Southern Cal |
2023 | Fenway Bowl | Win, 24-7 vs. Cincinnati |
2021 | First Responder Bowl | Loss, 31-28 vs. Air Force |
2019 | Music City Bowl | Win, 38-28 vs. Mississippi State |
Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters.
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