The key to stopping Louisville is stopping Lamar Jackson. Obvious, right?
For all the shadyness of Petrino, the one thing about him is the guy is probably one of the top offensive minds on any level of football. There's a reason why he got so many chances after incidences that would ruin most coach's careers. Now you give him a Michael Vick type athlete at QB that's a better passer at the same stage in their college careers? Then surround Lamar Jackson with great skill players? Good luck college football.
Oh, BTW, Louisville's defense is really good as well.
I think a lot of people are overestimating Clemson because they totally embarrassed us. Clemson is a good team, but they're not as unbeatable as they looked against us. Just look at the quality of teams both Louisville and Clemson have played. No one on Clemson's schedule is as talented or as good as FSU. Louisville completely dismantled and embarassed them...by halftime. MUCH worse than what Clemson did to us.
Deshaun Watson is a great passer, but he's not the athlete Lamar Jackson is. I would say LJ isn't quite the passer Watson is, but at this point in the season, Watson isn't the same QB he was last season. LJ has been VERY good playing in Petrino's system.
I actually think FSU is a better team than Clemson at this point in the season. It's going to be an exciting game, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Louisville run away from Clemson either. You put a special player at QB in an already prolific offense, and give him a pretty good defense and it's going to be tough to beat that team.
It's going to be a very good game for the ACC. Two good teams with two marquee QBs. I just think Louisville is a far better team at this point, and the scary thing is they still haven't hit their stride. I think a lot of points will be scored, but Louisville's offense is just too scary and their defense isn't anything to sneeze at either.