After a week off, second-ranked Florida State will put its 23-game winning streak on the line Thursday night against a Louisville team that comes in with a record of 6-2.
Florida State defeated Notre Dame in a nail-biter its last time out while the Cardinals downed N.C. State, 30-18.
For the Seminoles and Cardinals, Thursday’s contest will be the first meeting between the teams in 12 years and the first ever as ACC opponents. In 2002, Louisville defeated fourth-ranked Florida State 26-20 in a match-up that also took place on a Thursday.
Since joining the ACC in 1992, Florida State is just 7-5 all-time in regular season Thursday night games.
This week, quarterback Jameis Winston and the Florida State offense will be facing a very good Cardinals’ defense. Led by sophomore safety Gerod Holliman and senior defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville is giving up the fourth fewest points in the country this season.
Holliman is tied for the NCAA lead with eight interceptions on the season while Mauldin ranks third in the ACC with six sacks.
Louisville will be facing the ACC’s top scoring offense in Florida State. Winston was near flawless in the second half of Florida State’s 31-27 come-from-behind victory against Notre Dame, going 15-for-16 passing with 181 yards while leading three touchdown drives.
Winston, a sophomore, will likely look for senior wide receiver Rashad Greene early and often. Greene leads the ACC with 791 yards receiving, but freshman Travis Rudolph has emerged in recent weeks for the Seminoles.
At running back however, Florida State could be severely shorthanded for Thursday’s trip to Louisville. Redshirt sophomore Mario Pender has been nursing an ankle injury while senior Karlos Williams is being investigated for an alleged domestic violence incident. Williams leads the Seminoles this season with 378 rushing yards and seven touchdown runs.
While the Florida State offense and the Louisville defense have put up impressive numbers this season, the other side of the ball for each time has not. FSU ranks just 10th in the ACC in total defense while the Cardinals are next to last in total offense in the conference, ahead of only Wake Forest.
The Cardinals however, got a huge pick-me-up last time out as senior DeVante Parker caught nine passes for 132 yards in his 2014 debut. The 6’3″ Parker and leading receiver James Quick should provide a real challenge for Florida State’s talented secondary.
After leading the nation in interceptions a season ago, the Seminoles have taken a step back in the defensive backfield this season. FSU has allowed three of its seven opponents to go for over 300 yards through the air in 2014. Louisville quarterback Will Gardner has not hit that mark this season, but has not thrown an interception since the ACC opener against Virginia on September 13th.
At linebacker, redshirt freshman Matthew Thomas was back in the lineup for the Seminoles against Notre Dame, but it was junior Terrance Smith and freshman Jacob Pugh who had breakout performances.
Smith was named the ACC’s top linebacker last week after recording 11 tackles and a sack against Notre Dame while Pugh came down with the first two interceptions of his career including one in the end zone with six seconds to play to seal the victory.
A victory on Thursday for Florida State would put the Seminoles at 8-0 for the season and go a long way in helping FSU wrap up a third straight Atlantic division title and a fourth in five years.
Louisville aims for its first victory over a top 5 team since beating Florida in the Sugar Bowl following the 2012 season and its first in the regular season since beating third-ranked West Virginia 44-34 in 2006.
Coverage for Thursday’s contest will begin at 7:30 P.M. eastern time and will be shown nationally on ESPN.
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