Louisville at NC State – College Football Predictions
The Game
Yes, guy.
It’s a BEAUTY on Thursday night as the devastating Lamar Jackson brings his Louisville Cardinals to Raleigh to take on NC State. The Cardinals are sitting at 4-1 with their only loss coming to the WORLD CHAMPION Clemson Tigers and NC State can ALSO boast a 4-1 mark to start the season. The Wolfpack are 2-0 in ACC play and can set up a DATE WITH DESTINY match-up with Clemson on November 4th if they stay hot.
The Details
LOUISVILLE -3.5 NC State (67)
MEGALOCKS LINE – Louisville -4
Sagarin Ratings – Pick em
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: Louisville 35.25 NC State 31.75
Massey Ratings Projected Score: Louisville 32 NC State 31
The Match-Up
Louisville offense vs NC State defense
What can we tell you ? Lamar Jackson has been BETTER (!) than last season in our estimation passing for over 1,600 yards and rushing for 437 in just five weeks. The NC State run defense has been really good (#8 FBS) but will have a tough challenge keeping Lamar and the RBs in check for four quarters. They will give up some yards but need to be BIG on 3rd down (#84 FBS). The hole in the NC State defense is defending the pass (#91 FBS pass efficiency defense) but they will be helped out by the absence of the Cards #1 WR J Smith. Lamar’s mid-range accuracy is a bit off sometimes but he can really smoke you with the deep ball. This is going to be fun to watch.
NC State offense vs Louisville defense
Ladies and gentlemen, meet QB Ryan Finley. He has completed over 70% of his passes with a sparkling 9-0 (!) TD to INT ratio through five games. It is going to be tough sledding getting the run game going vs the LUA-VUH run defense (#20 FBS) but Finley certainly has the ability to dice the Cards up MATRICULATING in the passing game. They have four players with 240+ receiving yards. LUA-VUH is just T7th in the ACC in sacks per game and we feel like NC State is gonna have a lot of success moving the ball through the air. Louisville’s pass D ? #84 in the FBS in pass efficiency defense and they made UNC’s Brandon Harris (came in after Surratt injury) look like a Heisman candidate. Get cho popcone !
MEGA-MAZING MUNCHIES
NC State is just 3-7 ATS as a home dog under the watch of HC Dave Doeren……LUA-VUH is 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games……The Cards beat the Pack 54-13 last season.
Summary
Must-see TV. Both teams are talented and we should be treated to a back-and-forth game with the Cardinals ability to run (QB) and advantage at HC making the difference.
Conclusion
No official play. Would want Louisville -2.5 or NC State +7. Lean to the over 67 for small potatoes. There will be a lot of big passing plays and Lamar Jackson is a TD waiting to happen on every down. That is a square take but it is what it is, yo.