Louisville
Last year: 9-4 (7-1 ACC), lost 29-9 to LSU in Citrus Bowl
Best win: vs. Florida State, 63-20 Worst loss: at Houston, 36-10
Coach: Bobby Petrino (fourth year in his second stint, in which he is 26-13; eighth year at school overall, 67-22)
Starters returning: 16 (5 offense, 9 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: WR Jaylen Smith. I am going to assume you remember Heisman-winning QB Lamar Jackson, who had insane numbers last season, so I'll talk about Smith. With the graduation of top wideouts Jamari Staples and James Quick, Smith will become a bigger part of the offense. A freshman in 2016, Samuels recorded 27 catches for 599 yards and six touchdowns. His 22.2 yards per reception ranked third in the nation.
Defensive player to watch: LB James Hearns. As a junior, Hearns tallied 43 tackles, 11 for loss, with eight sacks. He also forced five fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: K Blanton Creque. As a freshman, Creque made 16 of his 19 field goals.
Schedule: vs. Purdue (in Indianapolis), at North Carolina, vs. Clemson, vs. Kent State, vs. Murray State, at N.C. State, vs. Boston College, at Florida State, at Wake Forest, vs. Virginia, vs. Syracuse, at Kentucky.
Outlook: In 2015, Louisville went 6-1 down the stretch run of the season. Last year, the Cardinals faltered as the year neared its conclusion, losing three in a row, including a 20-point loss to LSU in the Citrus Bowl. It was a disappointing end to a season that started with such promise, as Jackson and the
offense put up huge numbers and dismantled teams. Everyone knew Louisville was for real after it beat FSU by 43. Even after a very close road loss to Clemson, the team was still considered a national title contender. In 2017, it will be interesting to see if Jackson takes a step back or if the Cardinals are able to figure out why they stalled a little bit at the end of the '16 campaign. Only five starters returning on offense, including just two linemen, is certainly concerning as the unit will need to find new weapons and make sure Jackson stays upright. Though he rushed for 1,571 yards and 21 TDs, Jackson was sacked 46 times, most in the ACC by seven. In the passing game, he could be more dangerous if he ups his 56.2 completion percentage. The graduation of RB Brandon Radcliff leaves a void in the backfield. Redshirt freshman Dae Williams tore his ACL in April, so Petrino moved Reggie Bonnafon, a former QB, to the backfield full time. Louisville also has experienced options in seniors Jeremy Smith (387 yards, eight TDs n 2016) and Malik Williams (147 yards, one TD in '16). The defense has been pretty solid the past couple seasons and should be very good with lots of returning experience. The defensive line is a question mark, but the linebacking corps is solid with Stacy Thomas (85 tackles, 7.5 for loss, one sack) alongside Hearns, and All-American cornerback Jaire Alexander (five picks in '16) mans the secondary. The team might take a step back depending on how the offense moves along, but the potential is still explosive with Jackson, and the defense should keep almost any game from getting out of hand. It goes without saying that the Florida State and Clemson matchups will be pivotal games again.
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
Wake Forest
Last year: 7-6 (3-5 ACC), beat Temple 34-26 in Military Bowl
Best win: bowl victory Worst loss: vs. Army, 21-13
Coach: Dave Clawson (fourth year, 13-24)
Starters returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Kendall Hinton. Despite the return of senior John Wolford, who helped take Wake to its first bowl since 2011 last season, the more explosive Hinton, a junior, is expected be the starter. Hinton, in two full games and part of another, completed 11 of his 19 passes for 174 yards, no TDs and one pick before getting hurt. He ran for 125 yards and two TDs.
Defensive player to watch: SS Jessie Bates. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Bates finished second on the team with 100 tackles, 3.5 for loss, five interceptions, four breakups, and a forced fumble. He was named a Freshman All-American.
Special teams player to watch: P Dom Maggio. Last season as a freshman, he booted 24 of his 72 kicks inside the 20. He averaged 42 yards per punt and had a long of 80.
Schedule: vs. Presbyterian, at Boston College, vs. Utah State, at Appalachian State, vs. Florida State, at Clemson, at Georgia Tech, vs. Louisville, at Notre Dame, at Syracuse, vs. N.C. State, vs. Duke.
Outlook: Clawson did an excellent job getting a young team to a bowl game last season at 6-6, and beating a 10-win Temple squad was a great accomplishment. It was a very good end to the year after
the team dropped its final three regular-season games to Louisville, Clemson, and Boston College. Clawson has had great payoffs for teams once he reaches the fourth or fifth year in a program. At Fordham, he went 0-11 his first year and 10-3 in his fourth. He was 3-8 in his Richmond debut, then went 11-3 in his fourth year. At Bowling Green, he went 2-10 in his second year but 10-3 in his fifth. Clawson's offense was still quite bad last season, averaging just a little bit more than 20 points and 300 yards per game, but the unit was still quite inexperienced and this year, it returns everyone except two linemen. Top backs Matt Colburn (626 yards, two TDs) and Cade Carney (589 yards, six TDs) return as do wideouts Tabari Hines (38 receptions, 447 yards, three TDs) and Cortez Lewis (32 receptions, 415 yards, one TD) and tight end Cam Serigne (30 catches, 426 yards, three scores). The defense lost some good pieces in linebacker Marquel Lee and cornerback Brad Watson but seems to be on steady ground. The schedule is tougher than last season, with Appalachian State and Notre Dame being an upgrade over Indiana and Army, and the team has to face Georgia Tech instead of Virginia. A good start to the schedule is paramount for the team to make a bowl, because the middle part of the slate is brutal. I think Clawson is a great coach, so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and predict another step up this season, but a small step back might be just as possible, depending on how good some of these teams on Wake's schedule end up being.
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
Last year: 9-4 (7-1 ACC), lost 29-9 to LSU in Citrus Bowl
Best win: vs. Florida State, 63-20 Worst loss: at Houston, 36-10
Coach: Bobby Petrino (fourth year in his second stint, in which he is 26-13; eighth year at school overall, 67-22)
Starters returning: 16 (5 offense, 9 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: WR Jaylen Smith. I am going to assume you remember Heisman-winning QB Lamar Jackson, who had insane numbers last season, so I'll talk about Smith. With the graduation of top wideouts Jamari Staples and James Quick, Smith will become a bigger part of the offense. A freshman in 2016, Samuels recorded 27 catches for 599 yards and six touchdowns. His 22.2 yards per reception ranked third in the nation.
Defensive player to watch: LB James Hearns. As a junior, Hearns tallied 43 tackles, 11 for loss, with eight sacks. He also forced five fumbles.
Special teams player to watch: K Blanton Creque. As a freshman, Creque made 16 of his 19 field goals.
Schedule: vs. Purdue (in Indianapolis), at North Carolina, vs. Clemson, vs. Kent State, vs. Murray State, at N.C. State, vs. Boston College, at Florida State, at Wake Forest, vs. Virginia, vs. Syracuse, at Kentucky.
Outlook: In 2015, Louisville went 6-1 down the stretch run of the season. Last year, the Cardinals faltered as the year neared its conclusion, losing three in a row, including a 20-point loss to LSU in the Citrus Bowl. It was a disappointing end to a season that started with such promise, as Jackson and the
Win-loss prediction: 8-4 or 9-3
Wake Forest
Last year: 7-6 (3-5 ACC), beat Temple 34-26 in Military Bowl
Best win: bowl victory Worst loss: vs. Army, 21-13
Coach: Dave Clawson (fourth year, 13-24)
Starters returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Kendall Hinton. Despite the return of senior John Wolford, who helped take Wake to its first bowl since 2011 last season, the more explosive Hinton, a junior, is expected be the starter. Hinton, in two full games and part of another, completed 11 of his 19 passes for 174 yards, no TDs and one pick before getting hurt. He ran for 125 yards and two TDs.
Defensive player to watch: SS Jessie Bates. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Bates finished second on the team with 100 tackles, 3.5 for loss, five interceptions, four breakups, and a forced fumble. He was named a Freshman All-American.
Special teams player to watch: P Dom Maggio. Last season as a freshman, he booted 24 of his 72 kicks inside the 20. He averaged 42 yards per punt and had a long of 80.
Schedule: vs. Presbyterian, at Boston College, vs. Utah State, at Appalachian State, vs. Florida State, at Clemson, at Georgia Tech, vs. Louisville, at Notre Dame, at Syracuse, vs. N.C. State, vs. Duke.
Outlook: Clawson did an excellent job getting a young team to a bowl game last season at 6-6, and beating a 10-win Temple squad was a great accomplishment. It was a very good end to the year after
Win-loss prediction: 6-6 or 7-5
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