Expectations are high again this year… as they should be. Fans expecting 10 wins every year is where this program should be. But it’s also time to be realistic as well. They are not gonna win 10 every year. As for the 2025 season, Las Vegas has set the regular win season total at 8.5 wins.
This is a tough line for me because after evaluating the schedule I have the Cards winning either 9 or 10 games. So either I have more faith in the Cards than Vegas or they are gonna lose a game (possibly 2) that I don’t see. Now I know Vegas isn’t always right but their line is usually a very good indicator of how the season will go.
What we know for sure is that the Cards will have a solid offense. What we are uncertain about is the defense. I can’t say for certain how they will play defensively but I feel they addressed their needs very well in the portal. My predictions are based on the theory that the talent on defense will be similar to last season. Since there was no change in leadership, I don’t see any improvement on the 64th ranked defense from last year. However, if the Cards can improve to maybe the top 40, then things could be good.
On offense, I don’t think people gave Tyler Shough enough praise on how good he really was. Miller Moss can’t make all the throws that Shough could but he is definitely a guy that will make the right read and throw. So overall, they might be a little better offensively. Louisville averaged 36.5 points per game last season and I think we might see a slight uptick especially with the three early season games that have potential to be very lopsided.
Here are my annual game by game predictions…
Read more: Nunnsense | 2025 Game By Game PredictionsSaturday, August 30th vs EKU
Home Opener. Always a hype game no matter the opponent. EKU may not be a top level team but they are coming off a 8-4 season. They return 2 dynamic receivers that should give our secondary a decent test that might give us a gauge on how or defense might look this season. The EKU defense isn’t great and they lost their leading tackler to the Portal. Therefore, I see the Cards putting up a lot of points and hopefully some of the younger guys will get some game reps to help build some depth.
Cards win 49-3
Friday, September 5th vs James Madison
Coming off a 9-4 season and ranking in the SP+ top 50 last season, the Dukes look to be the favorite to win the Sun Belt conference. However, their quarterback is coming off of knee surgery and may not be back to 100% by this game so we might see UNLV transfer, Matthew Sluka. Their defense was actually pretty solid last year and I expect little drop off from lat year. That said, I don’t think their defense is at a level to stop the Cards high powered offense.They may hold the Cards under 50 points but I can’t see them playing well enough to get the W.
Cards win 41-10
———-BYE WEEK———–
Saturday, September 20th vs Bowling Green
3 straight home games. I’ll take it! And after a week off the Cards welcome in Bowling Green with new head coach, Eddie George. The Falcons should have a pretty solid offensive line as they return four starters but they did lose their tight end, Harold Fannin Jr. – who broke FBS tight end records with 1,555 yards and 117 receptions last season – to their NFL. They also lost their top three receivers as well as their top 2 running backs. So I’m gonna assume the offense might struggle a bit. Defensively, the Falcons lost a lot. They return just ONE starter in the secondary but George went heavy on defense in the portal.
Cards win 48-13
Saturday, September 27th at Pittsburgh
I will forever call it Heinz Field but the Cards first road game will be to Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium. Pitt is coming off a 7-6 season in which it won the first seven games of the season before dropping its last six games. One of those losses was a 37-9 loss to Louisville at L&N Stadium. The Panthers defensive front, led by Kyle Louis, who was First Team All-America last season, should be pretty solid. Might be tough sledding for the Cards running game. But the Panthers secondary is suspect at best. Miller Moss might have a big day. The Panthers offense is a step up from the previous 3 opponents so I expect the Panthers offense to have some early success. If the Cards D can make some plays late, they should secure a road conference win.
Cards win 35-31
Saturday, October 4th vs Virginia
North Texas transfer Chandler Morris takes over at Quarterback. The Cavaliers ranked 16th in the ACC in scoring offense last season at 22.7 points per game so I guess the QB change can’t hurt. Their OLine was atrocious so I could see the Card’s DLine having a big day. Defensively they gave up a little over 400 yards per game. While the Hoo’s have decent linebackers their concern is in the secondary.
Cards win 31-17
———–BYE WEEK —————
Friday, October 17th at Miami
We hear the phase every year, ” The U is back.” I fell for it once but never again. But there is one thing that you can’t deny, the roster is always loaded with top level talent. To me, the only thing holding them back from being elite is coaching. Replacing Cam Ward isn’t possible but they managed to get Carson Beck from Georgia. While that is a really solid portal pick up, my question is who is he going to throw the ball to? The Canes lost their top FIVE receivers. My guess is Miami will be more run heavy this year. On defense they only return 4 starters and there is definitely questions about their secondary. In my opinion, this game could be the big one that gives the winner a better shot of making the ACC championship game to face Clemson (likely).
Cards win 24-21
Saturday, October 25th vs Boston College
This one is tough to write a preview for being that BC doesn’t even know who their starting QB will be. Here is what I know. Both the O-line and D-line will not be great. Especially trying to replace the production of All-America defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku. The secondary is the strong spot of this team. This could be one of the games where Miller Moss hands off to five different running backs and two of them rush for 100 yards.
Cards win 28-17
Saturday, November 1st at Virginia Tech
This is the game that scares me. While Tech is about a top 50ish team and a team the Cards should beat… this has the feel of an upset. I’m not sure if it’s just the environment or if it’s all the portal pieces as well as coaching changes that has me feeling like this team could gel and be really good. I believe they are predicted to finish about 10th or 11th in the ACC but I see the potential to finish 5th or 6th. Also, early season success, going 7-0, makes the Cards prime for an upset with eyes ahead for the stretch run of Clemson, SMU and UK. I hope I’m wrong here.
Cards lose 31-28
Saturday, November 8th vs California
Cal comes to the wrong place at the wrong time. Cards licking their wounds after a lackluster performance in Blacksburgh look to get refocused and make a statement to the CFP committee. I don’t care if Cal brought in Tom Brady to replace QB Mendoza (transferred to IU), they are not winning this game.
Cards win 45-13
Friday, November 14th vs Clemson
FRIDAY! FRIDAY! FRIDAY! Couldn’t ask for a better spot for this game. No doubt L&N will be Rockin’. If Clemson is gonna win this game, they are gonna earn it. The defending ACC champs return 4 starters on the O line, one of the top QB’s in the country as well as potentially one of the top receiving corps in the country. On defense, they are gonna be very very tough. They will likely have two NFL first round picks on the defensive line and potentially two more from the defense getting drafted in the first three to four rounds. It’s gonna be a tall task for the Cards to get this W.
Cards lose 34-21
Saturday, November 22nd at SMU
SMU isn’t going to surprise anyone this year. Everyone in the ACC will be prepared. Hopefully Louisville will be out for revenge. I’m not as high on SMU this year as most predictors are. While I respect and appreciate QB, Kevin Jennings, and I know how Louisville has had it’s struggles against dual threat QB’s, I just don’t think he can do enough by himself to beat Louisville. I don’t think the SMU running game will give Jennings enough help and he will be forced to try and make more plays through the air. And with that, he will make one too many turnovers and that will be enough for the Cards to escape with a narrow win.
Cards win 23-21
Saturday, November 22nd vs UK
No need for analyzing…
Cards win 100-0 Win probability 99.999%
Best case scenario 11-1
Worst case scenario 7-5
My Realistic Prediction 9-3
As Always, GO CARDS!
