The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Louisville Cardinals are opening their 2020 seasons against one another at 8 p.m. ET Saturday at Cardinal Stadium. WATCH FREE HERE After a 9-4 record last year and a win in the First Responder Bowl, WKU is coming in with an eye to spark another quality season. U of L was on the positive side of .500 (8-5) last season and is hoping to kick off an even more successful year.

When: Saturday at 8 p.m. ET
Where: Cardinal Stadium — Louisville, Kentucky
TV: ACC Network
Online streaming:(Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
Follow:

A pair of last-season defensive stats to keep an eye on: The Hilltoppers were 12th best in the nation (top 9%) in rushing touchdowns allowed, finishing the 2019 season giving up only 11. Less enviably, U of L ranked sixth worst in the nation with respect to passing touchdowns allowed last season, where the team gave up 31. The good news for U of L, of course, is that these forces working against them might not carry over into the new season.

Since the experts predict a loss, WKU will need to dig deep. We’ll soon see whether they can make the experts look bad.

How To Watch

The Cardinals are a big 11.5-point favorite against the Hilltoppers, according to the latest college football odds.Over/Under: -110See college football picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now.
Series History Louisville have won both of the games they’ve played against Western Kentucky in the last six years.

The college football world will be focused directly on Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Saturday night when No. 1-ranked Clemson starts its journey toward a sixth straight ACC title against Wake Forest. In a normal season this would be an ACC Atlantic game as the two face off annually as division foes, but in this unique season with Notre Dame as a full member and all 15 teams grouped together in one division, the contest carries just as much weight as the rest of the 10 conference games scheduled for 2020.

Expectations for the Tigers have not lessened one bit as they take the field for the first time since falling to LSU in the national title game in January. Trevor Lawrence, now 25-1 as a starting college quarterback, has not opted out but doubled down on his opt in for the 2020 season, serving as a megaphone for players who wanted to be on the field this fall and for teammates of color who wanted to use their platform as Clemson players to bring attention to racial injustice.

Shares: