Louisville vs Washington prediction & betting tips - Dec. 31 - Sun Bowl

The Louisville Cardinals play the Washington Huskies on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. The game can be seen on CBS.

Louisville (8-4) ended the year with a 41-14 win over Kentucky. Washington (6-6) ended their first season in the Big Ten with a 49-21 loss to Oregon.

Louisville vs Washington: Preview

Louisville is a 2.5-point favorite while the over/under is set at 49.5 points.

The Cardinals will be without starting quarterback Tyler Shough who declared for the NFL draft. Louisville will have several key players not playing in the bowl game, as the full list is as follows:

• Tyler Shough, QB (NFL draft)
• Brady Allen, QB (transfer portal)
• Jimmy Calloway, WR (transfer portal)
• Jaleel Skinner, TE (transfer portal)
• Benjamin Perry, S (transfer portal)
• Jahlil McClain, WR (transfer portal)
• Maurice Turner, RB (transfer portal)
• Jadon Thompson, WR (transfer portal)
• Donald Chaney Jr., RB (transfer portal)
• Madden Sanker, OL (transfer portal)
• Mason Reiger, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Aaron Williams, CB (transfer portal)
• Devin Neal, S (transfer portal)

Louisville will likely start Harrison Bailey at quarterback who went 8-for-8 for 63 yards. The Cardinals will rely heavily on the run game as Isaac Brwon rushed for 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns, as without Shough Louisville will be a run-first offense in the Sun Bowl.

Washington, meanwhile, has most of its roster playing in the bowl game as players not playing are the following:

• Lance Holtzclaw, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Byrun Parham, LB (transfer portal)
• Kahlee Tafai, OT (transfer portal)

The Huskies will start Will Rogers who threw for 2,458 yards, 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Jonah Coleman is also a key part of the offense, rushing for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. Denzel Boston leads the way with 807 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns.

Louisville will have a hard time moving the ball as Shough was a major part of the offense this season. The Huskies' defense leaves a lot to be desired, but with Rogers and Coleman starting, this is a good spot for Washington to pull off the upset and win the Sun Bowl.

The Huskies will be able to have success on offense and its defense will focus on stopping the run. It should be a low-scoring game, but one where Washington edges out the victory.

Prediction: Washington 21, Louisville 17

Louisville vs Washington: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Washington +2.5 (-108)

Tip 2: Washington ML (+110)

Tip 3: Under 49.5 points (-110)