Louisville
Last year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC), lost to Mississippi State, 31-27, in TaxSlayer Bowl
Best win: at Florida State, 31-28 Worst loss: vs. Clemson, 47-21
Coach: Bobby Petrino (fifth year in his second stint at Louisville, in which he is 34-18, ninth year at school overall, 75-27, 117-48 career)
Starters returning: 15 (7 offense, 5 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: WR Jaylen Smith. As a junior, Smith recorded 60 catches for 980 yards
and seven TDs. On Aug. 3, he underwent an emergency appendectomy that went well. It's not expected he will miss any games.
Defensive player to watch: LB Jonathan Greenard. A junior, Greenard tallied 48 tackles, 15 for losses, to go along with seven sacks and a forced fumble as a sophomore.
Special teams player to watch: P Mason King. The junior averaged almost 44 yards per punt last season and had 10 of his 43 punts land inside the 20 and 10 went at least 50 yards.
Schedule: vs. Alabama in Orlando, vs. Indiana State, vs. Western Kentucky, at Virginia, vs. Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech, at Boston College, vs. Wake Forest, at Clemson, at Syracuse, vs. N.C. State, vs. Kentucky.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. This team has three starters returning on its offensive line and its top three receivers back. But the defense could struggle and, oh yeah, the dynamic Lamar Jackson is now with the Ravens. Louisville's next QB is Jawon Pass. Yes, that's really his name, and he's a 6-foot-4, 231-pound dual-threat signal-caller.
Wake Forest
Last year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC), beat Texas A&M, 55-52, in Belk Bowl
Best win: vs. Louisville, 42-32 Worst loss: at Georgia Tech, 38-24
Coach: Dave Clawson (fifth year, 21-29 at Wake, 111-108 career)
Starters returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: WR Greg Dortch. As a redshirt freshman, Dortch, who is from Highland Springs High School in eastern Henrico County in Virginia, played only eight games after suffering an injury, but he piled up 53 catches for 722 yards and nine scores. He also had more than
500 yards in kick and punt returns.
Defensive player to watch: LB Justin Strnad. The junior collected 51 tackles, 8.5 for losses, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles last season.
Special teams player to watch: P Dom Maggio. In 2017, Maggio, a junior, averaged 44.1 yards per punt, put 23 inside the 20, and booted 20 at least 50 yards.
Schedule: at Tulane, vs. Towson, vs. Boston College, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Rice, vs. Clemson, at Florida State, at Louisville, vs. Syracuse, at N.C. State, vs. Pittsburgh, at Duke.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. The Demon Deacons have a long homestand at the beginning of the season and two huge games when they host the Irish and Tigers. Win one, and this could be a special year in Winston-Salem. Early on, Wake will need to establish a new starting QB with the graduation of John Wolford. Kendall Hinton is expected to be that man, but he's suspended for the first three games, so Jamie Newman or Sam Hartman could get a crack at the job.
Last year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC), lost to Mississippi State, 31-27, in TaxSlayer Bowl
Best win: at Florida State, 31-28 Worst loss: vs. Clemson, 47-21
Coach: Bobby Petrino (fifth year in his second stint at Louisville, in which he is 34-18, ninth year at school overall, 75-27, 117-48 career)
Starters returning: 15 (7 offense, 5 defense, 3 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: WR Jaylen Smith. As a junior, Smith recorded 60 catches for 980 yards
Defensive player to watch: LB Jonathan Greenard. A junior, Greenard tallied 48 tackles, 15 for losses, to go along with seven sacks and a forced fumble as a sophomore.
Special teams player to watch: P Mason King. The junior averaged almost 44 yards per punt last season and had 10 of his 43 punts land inside the 20 and 10 went at least 50 yards.
Schedule: vs. Alabama in Orlando, vs. Indiana State, vs. Western Kentucky, at Virginia, vs. Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech, at Boston College, vs. Wake Forest, at Clemson, at Syracuse, vs. N.C. State, vs. Kentucky.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. This team has three starters returning on its offensive line and its top three receivers back. But the defense could struggle and, oh yeah, the dynamic Lamar Jackson is now with the Ravens. Louisville's next QB is Jawon Pass. Yes, that's really his name, and he's a 6-foot-4, 231-pound dual-threat signal-caller.
Wake Forest
Last year: 8-5 (4-4 ACC), beat Texas A&M, 55-52, in Belk Bowl
Best win: vs. Louisville, 42-32 Worst loss: at Georgia Tech, 38-24
Coach: Dave Clawson (fifth year, 21-29 at Wake, 111-108 career)
Starters returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: WR Greg Dortch. As a redshirt freshman, Dortch, who is from Highland Springs High School in eastern Henrico County in Virginia, played only eight games after suffering an injury, but he piled up 53 catches for 722 yards and nine scores. He also had more than
Defensive player to watch: LB Justin Strnad. The junior collected 51 tackles, 8.5 for losses, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles last season.
Special teams player to watch: P Dom Maggio. In 2017, Maggio, a junior, averaged 44.1 yards per punt, put 23 inside the 20, and booted 20 at least 50 yards.
Schedule: at Tulane, vs. Towson, vs. Boston College, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Rice, vs. Clemson, at Florida State, at Louisville, vs. Syracuse, at N.C. State, vs. Pittsburgh, at Duke.
Win-loss prediction: 7-5 or 8-4. The Demon Deacons have a long homestand at the beginning of the season and two huge games when they host the Irish and Tigers. Win one, and this could be a special year in Winston-Salem. Early on, Wake will need to establish a new starting QB with the graduation of John Wolford. Kendall Hinton is expected to be that man, but he's suspended for the first three games, so Jamie Newman or Sam Hartman could get a crack at the job.
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