Louisville Cardinals 2016 NCAA Football Preview
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Atlantic Coast Conference – Atlantic Division
2015 Record – 8-5
ATS – 7-6
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
Atlantic Division #3
Conference #4
2015 Recap
The Cardinals were the first team in NCAA history to win 8 or more games while making 25,000+ QB changes during the season. Slight exaggeration, but it looks as though they may have settled on a potential future star in Lamar Jackson. Louisville did indeed win 8 games in 2015, but we are still not sure what their best win was – at NC State? Boston College? a Texas AM team with no QB? The good news is that the games they lost last season were vs legit competition AND they return a much more experienced team in 2016.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
QB Lamar Jackson capped off a fine freshman season with over 200 yards passing AND rushing in the Music City Bowl. The Cardinals return essentially the entire WR and RB unit this season and should be a handful for every opponent on the schedule. We do however have huge concerns about the offensive line yet again. Now they are more experienced this season – but in 2015 they were the worst team in the ACC in sacks allowed per game (3.38 – 44 in total) and ranked 124th in the NCAA. That makes 85 sacks allowed the past two seasons combined. Louisville must do a better job of pass protection and develop a consistent ground game from someone other than the quarterback.
DEFENSE
Louisville gave up 24 points per game last season but they measured up extremely well in several categories. 2nd in the ACC in rushing defense. 2nd in sacks (38 in 2015 – 122 total last three seasons) and 1st in interceptions. They have a lot of experienced playmakers back for 2016 and we are very excited about the prospects for this defense.
JUGGERNAUT ALERT – LB Devonte Fields is a beast. It seems like ages ago that he was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2012) as a true freshman and all he did last year was co-lead the NCAA in tackles for loss per game and pick up 10.5 sacks. Fields is just one of many talented and experienced players on this defense and should pick up double digit sacks once again this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This could be a problem area for the Cardinals. They lose their career leader in FGs and also have to break in a new punter. Keep an eye on the kicking game as that could be something that costs them a game or two down the line. KR Traveon Samuel did a fine job returning kicks and is back in 2016.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 8.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Louisville has the potential for a really nice season. Based on talent alone – there is no reason to believe that they cannot make a run at the ACC Title Game despite having to deal with Clemson and Florida St. The Cardinals play Florida St at home and Clemson on the road in the first five weeks of the season. After those contests the schedule gets pretty manageable until a non-conference road game at Houston in mid-November.
Overall, we give the CARDINALS an 8.0 ATS Value Rating (Very Good) this season. Louisville was 14-12 ATS in the first two seasons of Petrino’s 2nd tour of duty. Concerns with the offensive line and kicking game prevented us from making their rating higher. Louisville has the potential to do very well against the number this season as they are loaded with talent and play in the same division as a couple of ACC heavyweights. They may just fly under the radar. Pardon the pun.
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Website
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http://www.scout.com/college/louisville/forums/2759-the-cardmarch
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News
https://cardinalsportszone.com/category/football/
http://bleacherreport.com/louisville-cardinals-football
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