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Top 25 Countdown 2024: Can No. 22 Louisville Again Reach ACC Title Game?

· Aug 01 - 5 minutes read

Tyler Shough takes over at quarterback for Louisville after stops at Oregon and Texas Tech.
Louisville led all ACC teams with 31 incoming transfers.
There will be no rematch of the ACC Championship Game in the regular season with Florida State not on Louisville’s schedule.
Check out the reasons why Louisville is sitting at No. 22 in the BetUS list of the Top 25 college football teams in 2024.

Louisville was flying a bit under the radar during the 2023 season until the Cardinals posted back-to-back wins against ranked North Carolina State and Notre Dame teams on the way to playing in the ACC Championship Game for the first time.

Top 25 Countdown 2024: Can No. 22 Louisville Again Reach ACC Title Game? — Ashton Gillotte #9 and Dezmond Tell #99 of the Louisville Cardinals | Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP

The Cardinals won’t be sneaking up on anybody this time around. Louisville is expected to join Miami and NC State as teams fighting it out to be the No. 3 favorite behind Florida State and Clemson. The college football futures odds list Louisville with the fourth-shortest odds of +650 to win the ACC title.

With some key players coming back and Louisville bringing in 31 transfers, the Cardinals come in at No. 22 in the BetUS college football countdown.

Louisville went from being winless in the ACC to giving undefeated Florida State all it could handle in the 2023 ACC title game in a span of five years. What’s next for the Cardinals during the 2024 season?

Louisville Cardinals at a Glance

2023 record: 10-4
2023 ACC record: 6-1
Head coach: Jeff Brohm
Odds to win ACC title: +650

QB Shough Heads Bevy of Transfers

Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm has no issues adding a quarterback with one year of eligibility remaining. Last year it was former Purdue and Cal quarterback Jack Plummer who led Louisville to a 10-1 start. Now it is Tyler Shough, who has spent time at Oregon and Texas Tech, that is being given the keys to the offense.

Leading rusher Jawhar Jordan is now with the NFL’s Houston Texans while top receiver Jamari Thrash was a draft pick of the Cleveland Browns.

After having 11 sacks last season, 275-pound senior Ashton Gillotte is on the radar of the pro scouts. Offensive lineman Michael Gonzalez is another player to keep an eye on.

Some of the best in the country 🔥@AshtonGillotte & @mgonzalez_71 earn preseason watchlist honors!

Nagurski Trophy Details: https://t.co/bqw2iVkCgC
Outland Trophy Details: https://t.co/y5Z8bjiUqh #GoCards pic.twitter.com/UNjSGKfGxg

— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) July 30, 2024

TJ Quinn and Devin Neal are back to lead the defense while Quincy Riley is another top defensive player.

One of the best defensive backs in the country 😤@quincyriley03 has been named to the @jimthorpeaward Preseason Watch List!

Details: https://t.co/ZUCxs2xV2r #GoCards pic.twitter.com/p0tpcmjXjl

— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) July 31, 2024

Louisville was the most active ACC team in working the transfer portal with 31 incoming transfers.

Along with the arrival of Shough, receivers Ja’Corey Brooks and Caullin Lacy come in from Alabama and South Alabama, tight end Mark Redman transferred in from San Diego State while Toledo running back Peny Boone is another new addition along with Miami tight end Jaleel Skinner. The defense could be bolstered by the additions of Tennessee safety Tamarion McDonald and Harvard defensive lineman Thor Griffith.

The Cardinals did see edge rusher Tyler Baron transfer to Miami. The six highest-rated incoming freshmen are slated to play on offense, led by tight end Dylan Mesman.

Louisville won five of its six games in 2023 when listed by the college football spread as the home favorite and lost just once at home. The Cardinals tied for the ACC lead by covering in five of its seven home games a season ago. Louisville was 4-2 ATS as a home favorite.

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Louisville 2024 Betting Outlook

Louisville was the only team to finish in the top four among ACC teams in both total offense and total defense. The Cardinals do not face Florida State during the regular season and there is also no rematch with North Carolina State.

Conference play begins with a home game against Georgia Tech and then the Cardinals head to South Bend to face a Notre Dame team that has some unfinished business after five turnovers by the Fighting Irish resulted in Notre Dame losing 33-20 to Louisville last season. The sportsbook odds have Notre Dame as a 9½-point favorite.

A home game against Miami on Oct. 19 and a Nov. 2 road game against Clemson could be the two most important games for Louisville as the Cardinals look to deliver at even money to land over 8.5 wins during the regular season. Don’t overlook a late-season game against Pittsburgh after the Panthers handed Louisville their first loss during the 2023 season.

Bet on Louisville to Reach ACC Title