Last year, we made a Bowl only because we played our last 2 conference games against the two worst teams in our league. Our QB looked like LJ against Syracuse and Duke. He looked like Puma against UK. 3 of our 6 wins against Duke, Syracuse, and BC.
This year, we have Syracuse on the road in an opener. This is before the season has beaten them down. And no Duke. BC is a road game too.
The schedule looks really tough.
Maybe our players have improved a lot during the summer, and maybe the portal additions and recruits will help. It just seems like we're set up for a really tough year playing a tough schedule.
I don't think Palm is out of line in his estimation. I just hope he's wrong and we once again squeak into a Bowl, setting up next year's unbelievable recruiting class to sign.
Palm is way out of line because he's not doing his job thoroughly. Louisville could have easily won 9 games last season. There was some bad luck and some calls against good teams. The refs gave Wake 3 points right before halftime. Cards had Virginia beat and was a yard away from beating Clemson.
Palm would use these facts with other teams and with so many talented players returning on both sides of the ball, he should come to the conclusion that Louisville would at least win 6 games.
But he's either lazy or biased and he's certainly an outlier compared to his fellow prognosticators.
The schedule is tough but it's still mostly teams the Cards have a history of beating. WF, Va, NC State and Pitt and they get three of those at Cardinal stadium.
Any real football guru would look at the Cards roster, see all the talent and added depth from last season and easily include they are a winning team. Of course anything can happen with injuries that could derail any team but pundits don't predict that.
Louisville is overdue to have the ball bounce their way and get the benefit of some whistles. There's not one team on the schedule that as a fan I'm scared of. Clemson is not what has been and we don't play Miami who is probably the best team in the ACC.
I predict a 8 and 4 regular season. I will do a game by game prediction soon, maybe today.