Storylines, players to watch in Louisville football game vs. Georgia Tech

Louisville football will spend most of the rest of the season on the road, starting with a Week 10 game at Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 7.The Cardinals (5-3, 4-2 ACC) have only had two true road games so far this year, going 1-1 in those contests. The win came against Syracuse, 34-26, in Week 7 as part of Louisville's current three-game winning streak. UofL can reach bowl eligibility for a sixth straight year with a win over the Yellow Jackets. On the other side, Georgia Tech (2-6, 1-4) is on the opposite end, having dropped its third straight game with a 34-11 setback against Pitt.Louisville has only ever played at Bobby Dodd Stadium once and lost Yellow Jackets, 46-27, in 2020.Here are three storylines to watch in the Cards' road game against the Yellow Jackets:Louisville's offense to face off against Georgia Tech's struggling defenseTwo years ago when Louisville beat Georgia Tech, 31-19, the Yellow Jackets' defense was one of the best in the ACC. It ranked fourth in total defense, sixth in both rushing and passing defense and ninth in scoring defense. This year is a completely different story. Georgia Tech is third-to-last in the ACC in both scoring and total defense and dead last in rushing defense. Over its last three losses, it's allowed 39 points per game.The Yellow Jackets' passing defense has been their saving grace, ranking fifth in the league by holding opponents to 195 passing yards per game. They'll have their hands full, though, with Louisville's offense averaging 267 passing yards per outing, eighth-most in the ACC. The Cardinals will be down second-leading receiver Lawayne McCoy, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury, but will still have plenty of offensive firepower.Seven different receivers caught a pass in Louisville's 52-24 win over Stanford, led by Tre Richardson's season-high 140 receiving yards on 10 grabs. And quarterback Lincoln Kienholz completed 71% of his passes (20 for 28) with two touchdowns for 250 yards.Louisville looks to get off to quick start against Georgia TechOne of the main points of emphasis during Louisville's Week 8 bye was to get off to a quicker start. The Cards were able to score on their first drive against Stanford, something they hadn't done in more than a month, but came up empty on their next three series. UofL's defense held the Cardinal scoreless in the first quarter then gave up 21 points in the second.The Cardinals had a monster second half, outscoring Stanford 28-7, and shut out the visitors in the fourth quarter. Now going on the road to Georgia Tech, getting both sides to be dominant right out of the gate will be key for a fourth straight victory.Making November one to rememberLouisville still has a strong chance to reach nine wins for a fourth straight year with four games left in the regular season. All three of its final ACC opponents — Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Pitt — are in the bottom half of the conference standings, so Louisville will likely be favored in each contest. That gives the Cardinals a good chance of climbing the conference standings (and potentially sneaking into the ACC title game), as well as playing at their best when facing Kentucky in the regular season-ending Governor's Cup.UofL is 8-5 in the month of November under Brohm, which includes some of the program's biggest wins. The Cards recorded their first-ever victory at Virginia Tech last November, and they also beat Clemson and Miami in November of 2024 and 2023, respectively.Louisville football players to watchLincoln Kienholz, quarterback: Kienholz has performed well in his first season as a starter, most recently throwing for 250 passing yards and two touchdowns in the Week 9 win over Stanford. The final month of the season will be a good opportunity to continue building his confidence and powering a Louisville offense that ranks eighth nationally.TreyShun Hurry, wide receiver: He had his first receiving touchdown of the season against Stanford and finished with 33 yards on three catches. Hurry will need to take on a bigger role in the Cards' passing game with McCoy out.Tommy Ziesmer, defensive lineman: With the Cards' defensive line suffering a couple injuries, Ziesmer stepped up and had a season-high four tackles against Stanford. He could continue to see more opportunities against the Yellow Jackets.Georgia Tech football players to watchAlberto Mendoza, quarterback: The Indiana transfer had his worst performance of the season against Pitt, managing only 81 yards on 16-for-25 passing after averaging 244.9 passing yards in the previous seven games. He'll be looking to redeem himself against the Cardinals.Justice Haynes, running back: Despite also struggling against the Panthers, being held to 33 rushing yards, Haynes has been a bright spot for the Yellow Jackets' offense. He's eighth in the ACC with 78.3 rushing yards per game.Taje McCoy, defensive lineman: One of GT's better defenders, the Oklahoma State transfer had six tackles and a force fumble against Pitt. He's currently second on the team in total tackles (46) and tackles for loss (5) and third in sacks (2)..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Courier Journal Sports (@courierjournal_sports) • Instagram photos and videosLouisville vs. Georgia Tech football predictionLouisville 48, Georgia Tech 24. The Cardinals' offense is on a roll that will continue as they get their first-ever win on the Yellow Jackets' home field and start November with a victory.How to watch Louisville vs. Georgia Tech footballWho: Louisville vs. Georgia TechWhen: 7:30 p.m. SaturdayWhere: Bobby Dodd StadiumTV: ACC NetworkRadio: Louisville Radio Network (93.9 FM and 970 AM)Streaming: Qualified subscribers can watch the game at espn.com/watch..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Storylines, players to watch in Louisville football game vs. Georgia TechOur editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.