Last weekend’s win against Samford was a great morale building win and it has our Cardinals headed in the right direction. They will attempt to keep that momentum going against the NC St Wolfpack. These teams don’t have a long history of competition but they aren’t strangers either. They have played five times and the Cards lead the series 4-1. The Cardinals won the very first game as ACC opponents against the Wolfpack last season 30-18 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The Wolfpack’s only win in this series was in the 2011 Belk Bowl. They came out victorious against the Cards in that one 31-24. Ironically the Cardinals started a freshman QB by the name of Teddy Bridgewater in that game and will also start a freshman QB Saturday. Louisville’s last trip to Carter-Finley Stadium came in 2007 when the Cardinals took home a 29-10 win.
In its 45 years of existence, Carter-Finley Stadium has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting venues in college football. It is an off campus facility located about 15 minutes from all of the things Raleigh NC has to offer. People that have visited this venue say Wolfpack fans are the type that come early and stay late. I expect this to be the loudest crowd that Louisville faces all season. The Wolf Pack has positioned themselves as a dark-horse in the ACC and their fans have bought in.
NC State had one of the most balanced offensive attacks in college football last season and they are off to a pretty good start this season with 1036 yards rushing with 878 yards passing. They’ve had 20 rushing touchdowns and 6 receiving touchdowns. The Wolfpack are looking to get a 5-0 start and the guy leading this offense is Jacoby Brissett. He is a heady veteran quarterback who is dangerous passing and running, completing 77.9 percent of his passes for 809 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions. Brissett has a passing touchdown in 11 straight games. He also has 65 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown.
Brissett also has plenty of support with all-star candidates like Jaylen Samuels and Jumichael Ramos who have combined for 398 receiving yards and four touchdowns while Matthew Dayes has 15 receptions. Dayes also leads the way with 454 yards and nine touchdowns in the rushing attack. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, David Grinnage looks like a prototypical tight end. But he’s much more a deep threat and consistent pass receiver who has been quiet this season with 38 yards but has that big game potential. Shadrach Thornton who has 203 yards with 3 touchdowns this season has been kicked off the team. This guy played an important role in their rushing attack but Reggie Gallaspy II who has 110 yards with 2 touchdowns is more than capable at filling this gap.
The Cardinals defense is tied for #1 in the nation in pass interceptions with 9 in the first four games and now has 17 straight games with at least one interception. Chucky Williams (2 INTs), Trumaine Washington (2 INTs), and Josh Harvey-Clemons (2 INTs) are 3rd in the ACC in this ball hawking category and they will have to keep up their great defensive effort on Saturday for the Cards to have a chance in this one. The Cards who were giving up 3rd down conversions at almost a 50% clip did improve on this statistic last weekend giving up 3 of 11, but will have their work cut out for them this week with a NC state team that is ranked 2nd in the ACC converting on 28 attempts at a 53% average through 4 games.
The Louisville offense started to develop an identity in the last game and it is one that will see both Lamar Jackson and Reggie Bonnafon used in the Cardinal backfield. The athleticism and speed of this duo will be on display in full force against the Wolfpack. The Cardinals will also look to get their rushing attack moving forward as they still rank 9th in the ACC with 615 yards and 10 touchdowns. I look for this part of the Louisville offensive attack to keep getting better as Brandon Radcliff is a gamer and one of the most physically transformed Cardinals on the depth chart. I also think that the Louisville offensive line is showing improvement. The Cardinals receiving game has been pretty consistent over four games with 1019 yards and 4 touchdowns. They ranking in the top 5 in the ACC in most receiving categories and will only continue to improve especially with the return of James Quick. I look for him to have a big game in this contest.
Defensively, NC State is allowing 12 points and 205.8 yards per game. Experience and depth are abundant on N.C. State’s defense. Eight starters and 23 players who lettered last season return, including the entire secondary. Safety Josh Jones leads the Wolfpack with 17 tackles, while senior defensive end Mike Rose has 12 tackles. Other Defensive players stepping up for the Wolfpack this season are defensive end Darian Roseboro has 4 tackles with two sacks and Mike Stevens who has four tackles with two pass deflections. This NC State team is getting a lot of attention for their offense but their defense is legit and one of the best in the ACC.
NC STATE’S DAVE DOEREN PREVIEWS LOUISVILLE:
It is going to be a rain soaked day for this game and that will have an impact. It will all come down to which group wants it more. Our Cardinals are in serious need of that signature win of the early season to continue to build that momentum and the Wolfpack are in desperate need of that reassurance win to show that their dark horse pick has some legitimacy. It looks to be a wet and wild day in Raleigh North Carolina and I think our Cardinals are the more battle tested group and that will pay off.
The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 27 NC State 17