Louisville football's 2025 season is just eight days away, and the Cardinals have their sights set on history. Louisville doesn't just want to have another eight or nine-win season; they want to beat Miami and Clemson, win the ACC Championship game, and make their first-ever College Football Playoffs.
So, how likely is that? The Cardinals have been emerging as the nation's top dark horse candidate to crash the College Football Playoffs, but do FanDuel and the Vegas Oddsmakers agree? The media made it clear they weren't too high on the Cardinals as Louisville fell to No. 5 in their predictions, and a recent analyst predicted them to end the season 8-4 and in eighth place.
However, Vegas thinks the Cardinals are poised for at least a nine-win season and could be a dark-horse candidate. The Cardinals are the third-best team in FanDuel's eyes, and the Cardinals fans are officially on that hype train as the season approaches.
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Louisville football poised for another nine win season
The Cardinals open up the regular season with the third-best odds to win the ACC Championship game with +800 odds. Clemson and Miami lead the way with the best odds to win the conference Title game, as the Tigers are +120 and the Hurricanes are +390.
Something worthy to note is the spread is out for the Cardinals and Tigers showdown on Friday night in November, and Clemson opens up as a 5.5-point favorite. SMU is right behind Louisville in the Vegas oddsmakers' opinions as the Mustangs are +850 to win the conference, making that showdown in Texas on November 22 crucial.
The odds haven't shifted much this offseason, but they do prove Louisville's schedule is a gauntlet. The Cardinals must win the big games this year if they want a shot at returning to the big game in Charlotte, and that starts week eight on October 17 against the Miami Hurricanes. The Cards having the third-best odds to win the conference proves the media is oddly harsh on Louisville, and that this team is poised to contend for the ACC Title.
The Cardinals don't just want to make it to the game, though; they want to make it to the Big Dance and crash the College Football Playoffs. Louisville has the skills and talent to crash the party, and if they are able to win the ACC Championship game, then they receive an automatic bid, but if they don't win that game, then the Cardinals must earn an at-large bid.
Louisville will enter the season with +360 odds to make the College Football Playoffs, and +8000 odds to win the 2026 National Championship.
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Other notable odds for the Cardinals' 2025 season, currently, include their win total, which is 8.5. The Cardinals have won eight games or more in three straight seasons, and many believe it will be four consecutive seasons. Louisville's odds to win at least eight games in the regular season come in at -370, while their odds to win at least nine games are -165, odds to win 10 games or more are +155, odds to win 11 games or more are +430, and their odds to go undefeated in the regular season are +1400.
If Louisville wants a shot at history and to etch its name into program history, then it comes down to Miller Moss and the defense. Moss must step up from last season and improve his decision-making and his accuracy. The Cardinals' rushing attack needs the passing game to be a threat, and with playmakers in Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy, Moss must utilize them and play like he did against LSU to open up the 2024 season.
As for the defense, this offense can put up points and have crazy stats and games, but if the defense can't get stops, then this team won't reach its goals. The Miami game is the perfect example. The Cardinals' defense must limit those shootout-type games, and the Cardinals' secondary must keep the ball in front of them.
While the media, for some odd reason, thinks less of the Cardinals and thinks they are poised for a dramatic collapse this season, oddsmakers still have faith in Brohm and Louisville heading into the 2025 season.
Related: Floor, ceiling, and prediction for Louisville in 2025: Can the Cardinals win the ACC?
For all the latest on Louisville football's offseason, stay tuned.