In Thursday night college football action, the (17) Louisville Cardinals travel to Carter-Finley Stadium to take on the (24) NC State Wolfpack. The ACC Conference battle is scheduled to go off on Thursday, October 5th at 8 p.m. EST. The exciting match-up can be seen on ESPN for your Thursday night college football fix. Coming into this game, the Cardinals are -4 point favorites and the over/under now sits at 65.
The Louisville Cardinals enter this game off a 55-10 tune-up victory over Murray State. Truthfully, the whole country saw this lambasting coming after Louisville was dominated at home against Clemson. The Cardinals didn’t disappoint, jumping out to a 35-3 halftime lead and putting it on cruise control from there on.
Last week, the North Carolina State Wolfpack found themselves in a highly-contested game against the feisty Syracuse Orangemen. In that game, the Wolfpack managed to hold off the Orangemen’s second-half comeback and capture a 33-25 victory. Now, North Carolina State has to take on one of the nation’s best signal-callers in Lamar Jackson.
These two schools met up in Louisville last year, and it wasn’t even close. The Cardinals won that game to the tune of a 54-13 beatdown. Revenge should be on the minds of the Wolfpack now that they get a shot at Louisville at home.
(17) Louisville Cardinals (4-1)
Let’s face it, Murray State wasn’t much of a challenge for the Cardinals on either side of the football. That being said, it was business as usual for the quarterback and Heisman hopeful candidate Lamar Jackson last Saturday.
The reigning and defending most valuable college football player in the country was unstoppable against the Racers. Lamar Jackson completed 18 of his 26 passes for 249 yards with three touchdowns and no picks. The dual-threat athlete also ran the ball another seven times for 100 yards and a trip to the promised land. Now, Jackson has compiled well over 1,600 yards through the air and 437 yards on the ground. As a result, Jackson has found the back of the end zone 18 times in 2017.
Now, Lamar Jackson has compiled well over 1,600 yards through the air, hitting 13 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. He also has 437 yards on the ground finding five scores via his feet.
The Louisville Cardinals field two other running backs to help take the work-load off of their outstanding quarterback. Malik Williams and Reggie Bonaffon have combined for 360 yards on 60 carries and four scores. Also, both backs have tallied two touchdowns of their own.
The Cardinals’ wide receivers have become the beneficiaries of a much-improved passer in Lamar Jackson. Five different wideouts have caught at least ten passes and all but one have scored a touchdown. Wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick is Louisville red zone threat, bringing in six scores from 22 catches for 379 yards.
Defensively, Louisville held Murray State to only five first downs last week. I think it’s safe to say that they were a little upset over the spanking Clemson laid on them. Even after the Tigers game, the Cardinals defense has remained solid in 2017. Overall, they rank 20th against the run, giving up just over 100 yards per game. They also rank a respectable 27th in total yards, allowing only 317 per game.
(24) North Carolina State Wolfpack (4-1)
The North Carolina State Wolfpack are one of four unbeaten programs left in ACC Conference play. Furthermore, their lone defeat came at the hands of the SEC’s South Carolina Gamecocks right out of the gate. On Saturday, the Wolfpack raced out to a 19-point halftime lead and held on for a 33-25 home win against the Cuse’. The Wolfpack offense rolled up 462 yards of total offense and 29 first downs.
On Saturday, North Carolina State darted out to a 19-point halftime lead and held on for a 33-25 home victory against Syracuse. Offensively, North Carolina State’s offense compiled 462 yards of total offense and also 29 first downs.
Leading the passing game was senior quarterback Ryan Finley. Finley was his typical self in the win, throwing for 186 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. The Wolfpack prefer not to ask Finley to win games with his arm. Instead, they ask him to do it with his smart, on-field leadership. So far this season, Ryan Finley has just over 1,400 yards passing with nine touchdowns and not one single interception.
Even though North Carolina State is a balanced offensive club, they do like to pound the rock. In fact, most would say this is the strength of this unit. Three capable tailbacks share carries and move the chains for the Wolfpack. Nyheim Hines is the leading rusher, toting the rock 82 times for 411 yards with three scores.
Teammates Reggie Gallaspy II and Jaylen Samuels also pitch in, running for just under 300 yards and five trips to the end zone. Samuels is a huge weapon in the Wolfpacks passing game. As of now, he has reeled in a team-high 43 passes for 321 yards and three scores.
Multi-purpose back Jaylon Samuels is a huge weapon in the Wolfpacks passing game. As of now, he has reeled in a team-high 43 passes for 321 yards and three scores. Wideouts Kelvin Harmon and Stephen Lewis have combined for another 49 catches for 554 yards and three more end zone appearances.
North Carolina State’s strength is their defense. Furthermore, they will be tested in this one as Louisville is the best offense they’ve faced all year. Their front seven is very strong and they held Syracuse to just 59 yards rushing last week. On the flip side, they also allowed 385 yards passing and the Cardinals can throw the football.
Prediction
Line setters have the Louisville Cardinals as a -4 point road favorite entering this game on Thursday. I suspect it’s because they have improved their passing game while the Wolfpack continue to struggle in that specific department. Also, the Cardinals are no defensive slouches either.
Quarterback Ryan Finley has played some smart football this season, and I don’t expect that to change too much against Louisville. The problem I have is that the North Carolina State offense will need to run the ball effectively to keep up with the Cardinals. Unfortunately, Louisville is also sporting an outstanding front seven.
Oddsmakers also have this contest’s total at 65. I’m still trying to figure out how Vegas thinks both of these teams will score in the 30’s. Both of these offenses should at the very least become one-dimensional and that smells like an under in a conference grudge-match like this.
So, with all that being said, I like the ability of Lamar Jackson to create and both defenses to limit the other offenses’ scoring. Take Louisville to win and cover the four while hitting the under 65 by game’s end. North Carolina State will have to wait for revenge until Lamar Jackson rolls around next year. If Jackson rolls around next year. Louisville wins 33-27 on the road. #moneytreesgrow
Trends
The Cardinals are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall.
The Cardinals are 0-5 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
The Over is 7-3 in the Cardinals last 10 road games.
The Wolfpack are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
The Wolfpack are 0-5 ATS in their last five home games.
The Under is 7-0 in the Wolfpack last seven conference games.
