– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:50 am
2017 Football Preview – ACC – Cardinals
Looking for 2017 Louisville Cardinals predictions? The Cardinals had a very successful 2016 season finishing the season with a 9-4 record and although they didn’t make the BCS Playoff they were one of the most exciting teams to watch on the offensive side of the ball. They also have Lamar Jackson who took home the Heisman Trophy.
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2017-18 College Football Preview – Louisville Cardinals
Head Coach: Bobby Petrino
2016 Record: 9-4
Louisville Cardinals to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +2200
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The expectations are high for the Louisville Cardinals. Can they live up to the expectations?
2017 Louisville Cardinals Predictions: Team Strengths
Lamar Jackson: The heart and soul of this team is the quarterback, Lamar Jackson who last year had video game like stats.
In 13 games last year he threw for 3543 yards and and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for another 1571 yards and 21 more touchdowns. He is a duel threat quarterback who can beat teams with his feet and his arm.
He is probably going to be a first round quarterback in next years draft if he declares after this season.
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With Jackson at quarterback the Cardinals are never out of games. He led the Cardinals last year to two huge comebacks that looked like defeats.
This year he needs to do everything in his power to lead this team to the FBS Playoffs. Those are the expectations this year, and anything less will be a disappointment.
Stout Defense: Usually when a team has a great offense, their defense is lacking something but that isn’t the case with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals were the 14th best defense in yards allowed per game last year and this years team will have seven of those starters back.
It’s impressive that this Cardinals team was ranked with the 14th best defense, but it’s even more impressive if you consider how many more defensive positions they had per day.
With the Cardinals upbeat offense a lot of the time they didn’t get much time to rest on the sidelines.
2017 Louisville Cardinals Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Who’s around Jackson?: The top running back and the two top receivers are gone from last years team and also the top Tight end.
There is a lot of questions about who will step up in their places. Jackson can do a lot by himself but he needs to have weapons around him to be able to replicate last years result.
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If it’s a running back by committee like many predict there needs to be one that steps up to be Lamar Jackson’s right hand man.
Jaylen Smith, Traveon Samuel and Reggie Bonnafon are all expected to be big parts of this offense, but right now they are big question marks and just hype.
For Louisville to take that big step forward some of those guys mentioned above need to step up and keep this offense as explosive as last year.
Who’s up front?: One of the biggest weaknesses last year that Louisville had was on the offensive line.
They were ranked 124th in sacks allowed and too many times last year Lamar Jackson was sent running for his life because of big lineman running straight at him.
Two bad things could happen if they have that problem again this year. It could force Lamar Jackson to be running for his life again, and make some bad decisions while on the run.
The other thing and potential worse thing is Lamar Jackson could get hurt. If he gets hurt all hopes for that BCS Playoff and a chance at a national championship game will be gone.
Louisville Cardinals Prediction
11-1
The Louisville Cardinals have a pretty easy schedule lined up for this year. Their two toughest games are against Clemson and Florida State.
To get a berth in the FBS Playoffs I think they need to win one of those games. Both of those games would all but guarantee a spot, but they need at least one win.
If the rest of the schedule pretty easy, if they lose both of those games even if they finish 10-2 I don’t think that would be enough to get them a berth into the playoffs.
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I think that the Cardinals will have a very successful season with their only loss coming against Florida State. I think they will run the rest of the table and get a FBS Playoff spot.
When the playoff hits anything can happen but I think they have a really good chance to win the National Championship if Lamar Jackson stays healthy.
2017 Louisville Cardinals Football Schedule
- 9/2/17 TBD @PUR
- 9/9/17 TBD @UNC
- 9/16/17 TBD CLEM
- 9/23/17 TBD KENT
- 9/30/17 TBD MURR
- 10/5/17 TBD @NCST
- 10/14/17 TBD BC
- 10/21/17 TBD @FSU
- 10/28/17 TBD @WAKE
- 11/11/17 TBD UVA
- 11/18/17 TBD SYR
- 11/25/17 TBD @UK
What do you think about our 2017 Louisville Cardinals predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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