Louisville Football: Pulse vs. North Carolina State

Nov 12, 2022; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Barrett Carter (0) sacks Louisville Cardinals quarterback Brock Dormann (19) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2022; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Barrett Carter (0) sacks Louisville Cardinals quarterback Brock Dormann (19) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville plays it’s last home game versus North Carolina State at 3:30 PM today. As a part of the last home game of the season, Louisville hosts senior day against the Wolfpack and hopes to end the celebration with a win. The sportsbooks currently have the spread for the game in the Cardinals favor as a three point favorite.

Lets take a dive into the pulse of the fan base.

Louisville fans have confidence that the Cardinals can stop North Carolina State’s offense. North Carolina State is ranked 81st in OFEI. OFEI is a Football Outsiders rating that shows a per possession scoring advantage each team has against an average team.  A team with a similar rating that the Cardinals faced this season was James Madison ,who currently ranks 89th in OFEI.

North Carolina State has had some letdowns this season offensively due to their starting quarterback, Devin Leary, being ruled out for the season due to a torn pectoral. There are rumblings within the media speculating that the Wolfpack will go against starting MJ Morris. The other quarterback they have played is Jack Chambers. Chambers is a senior transfer from Charleston Southern who had a completion percentage of 55.3% and threw close to 2500 yards.

Louisville had their own questions at the quarterback position and they were answered. The Cardinals will be starting Brock Domann today. Malik Cunningham will be out today due to a right shoulder injury, an injury he suffered last week against Clemson, as reported by Brett McMurphy.

While it’s lamentable that the senior won’t be able to celebrate senior day healthy, some fans will find more confidence in the junior college transfer during the matchup today against North Carolina State. The fan base may get to settle the debate they have had since the Virginia game on who should be the starting quarterback.

Louisville will need to balance the offense out through the air against North Carolina State due to their strong defense. North Carolina State currently ranks 1st in the nation in stuff rate, which will be a hard task ahead of the Louisville offensive line who will need to get the running backs off the line of scrimmage. Stuff rate is a statistic accumulated by Football Outsiders that takes the percentage of the opposing teams’ carries that are stopped at or before the line of scrimmage.

Domann has a tough challenge ahead of him today against the Wolfpack’s defense. Overall, the defense ranks 22nd in DFEI, which is Football Outsiders rating that shows the per possession scoring advantage each defense would be expected to have against a average opponent.

Louisville’s defense will need to play well again today and stop Jack Chambers on the ground if he starts. The defense struggled last week against simple QB draws.

The prediction today will be a lower scoring game where the Cardinals win a close one 20-14. Let’s celebrate the seniors on a high note.