2006 Louisville Football Picks & Predictions

The Louisville Cardinals have had one of the most potent offenses in the country under Bobby Petrino averaging 482.1 yards per game last season which was good for 3rd in the nation. They have all the pieces coming back on offense as they lose just 3 players and return QB Brian Brohm, tailback Michael Bush, and receiver Mario Urrutia. Last season, Louisville played in their first Gator Bowl and this season the Cardinals have their eyes set on a BCS bowl. The West Virginia Mountaineers pose the only threat to the Cardinals in the Big East and we could have another triple OT thriller on our hands this year. Right now, I have to give the Mountaineers the edge as they are advanced on the defensive side of the ball and they will give Louisville a unique look on offense that is nearly impossible to prepare for. Miami on September 16th is the only other problem spot I see for Petrino’s bunch. With our football predictions we think if he can get past Miami’s swarming defense, we may want to start penciling them in for a BCS Bowl.

It’s Louisville’s defense that has failed them at times as they gave up 23.8ppg last season including 35 to a very good Virginia Tech team in the Gator Bowl. If Louisville wants to get over the hump, they’ll really have to tighten the screws against better competition as they found at last year that they can’t outscore everyone. Louisville returns their entire defensive backfield so they should improve on their 46th national ranking against the pass from a season ago. The key will be if the defensive front will be able to put pressure on opposing QB’s and I’m looking mainly at the Miami game as Kyle Wright will pick them apart if they give him time to sit back and throw.

I don’t see any surprises coming this year for the Cardinals like when they went to South Florida and got murdered 14-45 last season. It’s pretty cut and dry. If they get past Miami and West Virginia, who they get at home, the Cardinals will have climbed up the ladder to a BCS Bowl and a Big East title. Although it’s possible, with our free football picks we think the Cardinals likely drop both of those games as the defense won’t quite be able to hold their own against the best in the nation.

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