Nunnsense: 2016 Louisville Football Game By Game Predictions

Here is my game by game predictions for the 2016 football season. Las Vegas has set the regular season win total at 9.5 games. I believe it’s a wise bet to take the over. Usually when I say to take the over it’s my heart talking but after looking at each game I believe the Cards can very realistically win eleven games but my head says that there might be one game that we slip up that we shouldn’t so ten wins is a safer bet. It’s still over the Vegas total. I pride myself in not getting caught up in the hype and I always keep it real with you even though you might not always like me for it. So here is the ugly truth. Since Petrino returned to Louisville they are 0-4 vs Clemson and Florida State. They are 0-6 vs ranked teams (No, Notre Dame was not ranked and we were ranked 24th). I believe this is the year that all changes. As of now we have 3 chances to beat a ranked team. I think we win 2 of them. I truly believe Louisville wins 11 regular season games this year. That look that Petrino has in his eye, that grin he carries with him at every media appearance and that slightly elevated happy tone in his voice reminds me of Rick Pitino just before the start of the 2013 year and we all know how that turned out (No I don’t think Louisville will win a championship but it could be one of the best years ever).  Just like Pitino, Petrino knows he has something special with this team.

Here are my predictions,

Thursday Sept. 1 vs. Charlotte  – Charlotte started off the 2015 campaign 2-0 but didn’t win again all season. They finished 2-10 with a 58-10 loss to Kentucky. That should be all you really need to know although they do return 9 starters on offense and 9 on defense. The current spread on this game is 39 points. I don’t think that is enough. Expect to see Bolin most of the second half. Cards Win 65-3

Friday Sept. 9 at Syracuse –  The Orange were 4-8 last season and only beat 2 ACC teams (Wake Forest and Boston College). Last year Louisville beat Syracuse 41-17 at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium. This year we travel to the very loud Carrier Dome. The noise coupled with the fact that new coach Dino Babers runs a very high-powered offense could make this years game a little closer. The question mark for Syracuse if the offensive line. A lack of experience and a new offensive system can be problematic for them. I believe this game will be closer than we would like and a late score secures  the win. Cards win 35-24

Saturday Sept. 17 vs. Florida State – Coming back home after a wake up call on the road at Syracuse, the Cards should be ready and the environment at PJCS will be electric (even at noon). The Seminoles handled the Cards pretty good last year in Tallahassee winning 41-21 even though Louisville was up by 1 at the half. In 2014 at PJCS the ‘Noles won 42-31 behind Jameis Winston. Winston is gone and the question I have is with the QB situation. Playing them at home and early in the season is an advantage because we get a shot at them before they get the QB situation figured out and in rhythm. The only thing that worries me is Dalvin Cook. Dude is a beast! He rushed for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns combined in our last two meetings. Hopefully our defense takes those numbers personally and put a priority on slowing him down a bit. Fla State lost some big time defensive guys to the NFL but they do have the best recruiting class so there might be some youth on their defense. I really think this is our year to get them. It won’t be easy. Cards win 38-35

Saturday Sept 24 at Marshall – This is the game people will label as the “trap game”. While I agree it’s not ideal being after a huge home victory over Florida State and before traveling to Clemson, Petrino will have them ready. Marshall was 10-3 last season and returns their QB. Marshall’s problem will be on the D line. I see Brandon Radcliff (and company)  pounding away and keeping the clock moving. This game will be closer than we would like but we win a low scoring game. Cards win 21- 14

Saturday October 1 at Clemson – This is the biggest game of the year and could likely be a game between two top 10 teams. Clemson won the ACC and lost to Alabama (45-40) in the national championship game last season. They have the Heisman trophy front-runner in QB Deshaun Watson. Clemson lost a lot on defense but they are a deep team and have capable replacements. Clemson has become our newest rival and even though it’s only 2 games old, we have had 2 great games. I expect this game to be more of the same. Clemson won 23-17 in the first game and had to catch James Quick near the goal line to hold onto the victory. They also won the second game at PJCS 20-17 after Wallace missed a late field goal to send it to OT. The scary thing to me is that in the first game Watson didn’t play because he was hurt and in the second game Watson was just starting to get fully healthy. This will be our first game against a 100% healthy Watson. To make matter worse we have to play them in Death Valley. Even though I will be there cheering my heart out, it still won’t be enough. They will be ready for us. Cards lose 28-24

Saturday Oct 8 – A much-needed bye week

Friday Oct 14 vs Duke – The Blue Devils were 8-5 last season and 4-4 in ACC play. Duke is another team that lost a lot on defense so Lamar should really enjoy this Friday night affair. Duke’s QB is coming off of injury and should be about healthy by this game. I don’t see this being a close game when the clock hits 0:00. Cards win 48-13

Saturday Oct 22 vs N.C. State – The Wolfpack come to town off a road trip to Clemson. Hopefully Clemson softens them up a bit. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is gone so the QB position could be an issue but their rushing game is solid. Our D will be tested. I have faith in our defense. NC State brings back the No. 29 ranked defense from last season but Lamar handled that defense last season with 234 total yards and accounted for 2 total TDs. In the rain soaked game in Raleigh, the Cards held on to win 20-13 thanks to a fourth and 1 stop by James Burgess with 1:14 to go. Cards win 31-14

Saturday Oct 29 at Virginia – Virginia is not very good and has questions at linebacker. They were 4-8 last season and 3-5 in ACC play. Virginia beat us in Charlottesville when we were ranked #21 on 2014. Virginia answered a 4th-quarter Louisville comeback with a late game-winning FG after Louisville fumbled a punt attempt. Last year at PJCS Louisville won 38-31 in a game where Lamar didn’t throw a pass. Radcliff ran for 146 and 2 TD’s. In this years return to Charlottesville, this could be that game where we should win but don’t. I feel Petrino will have them prepared for just that. Cards win 31-20

Saturday Nov 5 at Boston College – Louisville struggled last year vs BC winning 17-14 in a game where Lamar threw 2 int’s and the defense rallied to preserve the win. They won’t have any problem getting up for this game when they see ex UK QB Patrick Towles under center for BC. Along with Towles they have improved their offensive line in an effort to fix the running game, which fell from 15th in the country in 2014 to 73rd last season. Boston College is hungry and improving but not enough just yet. Cards win 38-10

Saturday Nov 12 vs Wake Forest – The Demon Deacons were 1-7 in conference last season. Wake’s offense scored only 17 points a game — which ranked No. 119 among 127 NCAA FBS teams but they had a solid defense that ranked No. 6 in the conference in scoring defense and No. 7 in total defense. Only Boston College, Florida State, Clemson, Louisville and North Carolina allowed fewer points per game, and the Tar Heels (24.5 points a game) barely edged out the Deacons (24.6 points a game) for the fifth spot. Wake will have an even better D this season but it’s no match for Bobby’s boys. Cards win 24-7

Thursday Nov 17 at Houston – We all remember last years game at home. We were introduced to Greg Ward Jr. Houston announced themselves to the college landscape last season when they went 13-1, finished the season ranked 8^th in the country and won the Peach Bowl over Florida State. This game could be a big one. ESPN already has the television rights and has it scheduled as it’s 8:00pm game. The Cougars lost 3 players to the NFL but they are still a great team. They are ranked anywhere from 8th to 15th in various preseason polls. Ward Jr. is on the Heisman trophy list and is listed ahead of Lamar. Houston is the game that a lot of experts expect us to lose since it’s at Houston. I think The Cards will seek redemption and won’t give up another 100 yard kickoff return. Lamar won’t have 4 turnovers again either. Cards win 38-27

Saturday Nov 26 vs Kentucky –  It’s UK. Cards win 108-0 (15 td’s, a safety and a 2pt conv. when Stoops asks Bobby to take a knee in the 4th quarter)