Why Notre Dame Will Upset Florida State and More in Vegas ACC Predictions Week 8
Saturday Blitz Vegas ACC Predictions Week 7
N.C. State Wolfpack at Louisville Cardinals
Line: Louisville by 17.5
The early-season hype behind these two teams after the way they started the season has subsided significantly. Louisville has 2 losses that never should have occurred, and N.C. State has lost 3 straight and looks nothing like the team that started the season 4-0. The Wolfpack now look like Dave Doeren’s first team that went 3-9, and they’ve been that way since the fourth quarter of the Florida State game. Maybe they woke up to reality. But whatever happened, they need to turn the season back around. Jacoby Brissett simply needs to get going again. That means completing more than half of his passes again and leading his team to high-scoring wins. That hasn’t happened the past two games, and it has cost them. If he doesn’t improve, the Wolfpack don’t win.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, are back to starting Will Gardner at quarterback. He needs to at least have 200 yards and a couple of touchdowns with no interceptions. James Quick will come through at receiver, but other guys have to step up too to make for a more balanced passing attack. Otherwise, this will be an upset home loss. Louisville’s defense has to keep doing what it’s been doing and make sure the Wolfpack don’t get back into an offensive rhythm. Doing those things should be enough to get the Cardinals back on track.
Prediction
The Cardinals should not have any trouble knocking off N.C. State at home on Saturday. The Wolfpack will likely get back into a rhythm at some point, but it won’t be against a very good Louisville defense. And you heard that right. Bobby Petrino’s defense will be the reason for one of his teams winning a game. The offense won’t be too shabby either, though.
Louisville: 31 N.C. State: 14