College Football

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Week 1 of college football opens the season for Louisville in Nashville against Ole Miss. The outcome may set the tempo for the rest of the year. An opening win, not just a field goal at the right time kind but one that demonstrates the effectiveness of both the offense and defense, may open the door to much bigger things. It sets up a really important matchup between SMU and the Cardinals in Louisville on September 19.

Both teams are sitting neck and neck behind Miami in the ACC Nation Preseason Composite Rankings. it’s the kind of game that could decide who heads to Charlotte for a spot in the ACC Football Championship. That may be looking ahead a wee bit but there’s not doubt it places the winner in a sweet spot of the Top 25 rankings and that may lead to grabbing a playoff spot.

Dalton Pence with Locked on Louisville podcast joins Will and Jim on ACC Nation to preview the Cardinals. Pence provides great insight into how key elements of the team need to come together. Will gets into the X’s and O’s with Dalton to give you a better look at what to expect when it comes to a new quarterback (fans will like what they hear) and what kind of weapons he’ll have to put points on the board.

What about the defense? Has the coaching staff filled in the blank spots sufficiently to keep Louisville in the game? Again, does Louisville have the juice? It’s a big question and so far they look like they can deliver.

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