2018 Louisville Cardinals Season Win Total Picks and Predictions for NCAA Football

2017 Record: 8-5

2018 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 7.5

2018 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Under'

I've said it before, but I will say it again: Bobby Petrino is a preeminent scumbag in a sport that is full of depraved sociopaths. But there is no denying one thing: the guy has a proven system, and he just knows how to find wins.

Petrino's system will be tested this year, though, with the loss of Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. The Cardinals were fortunate to get to eight wins last year even with one of the school's all-time greats at quarterback. But without him I think that this group could struggle.

Louisville has been somewhat of a fraud over the last three years. They have spent 18 of the past 24 weeks in the Top 25 over the past two seasons, getting all the way up to No. 3 in 2016. However, Louisville is a pathetic 1-9 against other Top 25 teams over the course of the last four years, including back-to-back bowl losses.

Petrino used up all of Charlie Strong's excellent defensive recruits. And the Cardinals head into this fall with just four starters back from a below-average group last season. The Cardinals brought in their third defensive coordinator in three years, SEC and NFL castoff Brian VanGorder. That means Louisville will be shifting to more complicated 3-4 scheme, and it should take some time for their young players to adjust.

Offensively, we know any Petrino-coached club is going to score. And it will be on sophomore quarterback Puma Pass to pick up where Jackson left off. The offensive line, which had two freshmen starters last year, should be better this season. And the Cardinals have their top three receiving options back from last season. But someone will have to make up for Jackson's explosiveness, especially in the running game.

Louisville will start the season with a loss at the hands of Alabama. The Cardinals are hefty 26-point underdogs in that game. They should easily pick up wins against Indiana State and Western Kentucky before opening league play at Virginia.

Then things get interesting. The Cardinals host Florida State and Georgia Tech in back-to-back weeks before a tough road trip to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College. After a bye week, Louisville will host Wake Forest before road games at Clemson and then at Syracuse on a Friday night. The Cardinals close with home games against N.C. State and rival Kentucky.

I think that Louisville is going to struggle this year. I don't think they will be close to beating Alabama, Florida State or Clemson. Georgia Tech is always tricky, and road games at Boston College and Syracuse won't be easy. To beat this number the Cards would have to win two of those six games (while also avoiding an upset loss to Kentucky in the finale). I don't see it happening. I think Petrino will take a step back this year before his young team matures and takes a step forward next season.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past seven years, earning nearly $28,000 in total football profit. He has also posted seven of nine winning seasons (including back-to-back winning years) and produced 26 of 41 winning football months and an amazing 45 of 70 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 900 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a third straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!

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