Florida State Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

The Louisville Cardinals and Heisman winning quarterback Lamar Jackson took the college football world by storm last season. Such shouldn’t be the case this season as teams look to shutdown the playmaking quarterback.

With a potential top 10 matchup looming and conference bragging rights on the line, this game is sure to be a good one. The Cardinals put up 63 points on the second-ranked Florida State Seminoles in 2016. Their offense should still be explosive this season, but the spotlight will be on safety Derwin James to contain Lamar Jackson.

The Seminoles defense didn’t look the same without James on the field last year. It showed itself against Louisville as they gave up 314 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in last season’s 63-20 loss.

Jackson couldn’t be stopped as he ran for 146 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also had 216 passing yards and a passing touchdown but his work on the ground stood out most.

Jackson won’t be taken lightly by the Florida State defense this go around. They should be prepared to keep the pressure up on him all day long.

The Seminoles sacked him just once is last year’s game while on the other side of things, Francois was sacked five times.

Louisville beat the Seminoles for just the third time ever in 17 tries a season ago. Two of those victories have come in the last five meetings. Luck could be on the Cardinals’ side again but it’s hard to see Florida State dropping one at home here. Strangers things have happened though.

Final:  Louisville 35, Florida State 42 (6-1, 5-0 ACC)