Previewing NC State’s Opponent: LOUISVILLE

NC State will try to pick up their 5th win of the season tonight against Louisville at 7:30pm on the ACC Network.

New Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield is looking to lead the Cardinals to a 6th victory, making them bowl eligible after missing one last season.

The Wolfpack defense has allowed 500+ yards of total offense in 2 of their last 3 games, and they will have their hands full with one of the most potent offenses in the ACC. Louisville boasts the 4th best offense in the ACC, averaging 450.3 yards of total offense, with their run game being the star, averaging 213 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 3rd in the league.

Freshman Running Back Javian Hawkins has been a stud in his first season, needing only 22 yards rushing today to cross the 1,000-yard barrier. He would be the first Louisville running back to rush for 1,000+ yards since Bilial Powell in 2010.

If you look at the rankings for the ACC’s most efficient quarterbacks, you won’t find Sophomore Malik Cunningham’s anywhere, but that’s only because he doesn’t have enough pass attempts. If he had enough pass attempts, he would be the most efficient quarterback in the ACC, with a passing efficiency rating of 187.3 on the year. Cunningham has thrown 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, completing 62.5% of his passes.

Cunningham is only averaging 153 yards through the air per game, but there isn’t a question of whether he has a favorite target. Sophomore Tutu Atwell ranks 8th in the ACC in receptions per game (5.1) and 3rd in receiving yards per game (89.6).

Louisville’s defense ranks in the bottom of the conference in nearly every category, but that hasn’t been a guarantee for a successful NC State offensive performance the past couple of weeks.

Scoring Defense – 14th
Total Defense – 11th
Pass Defense – 10th
Rush Defense – 11th