Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Louisville

NC State’s defense might just have their hands full tonight trying to slow down the Louisville offense. The Cardinals are 4-0 to start the year, and 2-0 in ACC play.

• 43 points per game, which ranks 9th nationally.
• 542 yards of total offense per game, which ranks 5th nationally.
• 304.8 passing yards per game, which ranks 15th nationally.
• 237.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks 4th nationally.
• 7.7 yards per play, which ranks 5th nationally.
• 5.3 yards per rush, which ranks 17th nationally.
• 11.6 yards per pass, which ranks 3rd nationally.

Quarterback Jake Plummer, who began his career at Purdue, landed at Cal last year, and is finishing his career at Louisville, boasts a passing efficiency rating of 189.8, which ranks 2nd in the ACC behind Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke (197.8). He is completing 67% of his passes (4th in the ACC), and has thrown for 10 touchdowns (4 interceptions), which is tied for 3rd in the conference.

The biggest nightmare the Wolfpack will face, in my opinion, is Cardinals Running Back Jawhar Jordan (RS JR), who is averaging 119.5 rushing yards per game, which leads the ACC, and ranks 9th nationally. He is averaging 9.6 yards per carry, and has 6 rushing touchdowns.

In the receiving game, the name to watch is Redshirt Junior Jamari Thrash, who is averaging 100 yards receiving per game, which ranks 2nd in the ACC, and 18th nationally. Thrash also leads the team with 5 touchdown receptions.

Wolfpack fans have been waiting for their offense to produce the explosive plays they expected from an offense run by Robert Anae. So far they have only produced 4 plays of 40 yards or more. In comparison, Louisville has 29.

The Louisville defense isn’t shabby either, giving up only 19 points per game, which ranks 4th in the ACC, one spot ahead of NC State, who is giving up 21.8. Louisville is giving up 359.5 yards of total offense, which ranks 9th in the ACC, while NC State’s 326 ranks 6th.

While the 2 teams are nearly identical in rush defense, with NC State and Louisville rankings 6th and 7th respectively, the Cardinals do seem to be susceptible through the air. Louisville is giving up 244.8 yards through the air, which ranks 13th out of 14 teams in the ACC. Maybe this is the game NC State finally produces some explosive plays through the air.