CHART: Louisville Passing Offense vs. Georgia Passing Defense

Mark BlankenbakerDecember 23, 2014

Louisville Passing Offense

The Cardinal aerial attack was very steady throughout 2014 despite a great deal of Quarterback instability due to injury. Will Gardner started the 1st three FBS games before going down with a knee injury vs. FIU. Reggie Bonnafon came in relief during Virginia and started 3 consecutive games (Wake, Syracuse, and Clemson) before being replaced by Will Gardner during the Clemson game. Will got a huge lift when DeVante Parker returned to the lineup against NC State, giving the Cards a more potent big play threat than it had before. Gardner started against NC State and Boston College before going down at BC for the season with a knee injury. Reggie Bonnafon took the reins and was FANTASTIC against Boston College and Notre Dame. Bonnafon was injured early against Kentucky and was replaced by Kyle Bolin who TORCHED the Wildcats.

On the season, Louisville faced SEVEN Top 50 Passing Defenses, Georgia will be the best Passing D yet and is 2nd in the nation at yards allowed through the air. The closest comparison was Clemson, who finished the 2014 regular season as the #3 passing defense. Reggie struggled vs. the Tigers, and Will Gardner came in and made some plays. Louisville was able to gain 212 yards without DeVante Parker, without Aaron Epps at Tackle, without Michael Dyer in the rushing attack, and with Reggie Bonnafon making his 3rd career start (2nd road).

Louisville gained 300+ yards on three separate occasions and were able to exceed opponents passing defense numbers by 38 yards per game or 119%. Against Georgia’s 158.4 yards allowed passing statistics suggest that UofL will gain 189-196 yards against the Bulldogs.

	Passing Defense	Louisville Gained vs.	Deviation from Avg.	% Gained of Avg
Miami (FL)	184.1	206	21.9	111.90%
Virginia	232.5	203	-29.5	87.31%
FIU	203.3	324	120.7	159.37%
Wake Forest	186.6	206	19.4	110.40%
Syracuse	209.9	174	-35.9	82.90%
Clemson	161.9	212	50.1	130.95%
NC State	197.5	203	5.5	102.78%
Florida State	218.2	330	111.8	151.24%
Boston College	218	257	39	117.89%
Notre Dame	239.8	180	-59.8	75.06%
Kentucky	215.8	389	173.2	180.26%
Georgia	158.4	Average	37.855	119.10%

Georgia Passing Defense

The Bulldogs were EXCELLENT in patrolling the air in 2014 and finished as the #2 Passing D in 2014. Yet UGA played just TWO Top 50 Passing Offenses in 2014, both in the 1st two FBS meetings (Clemson, South Carolina). Louisville (50th) will be the 3rd Top 50 passing offense of the season and the 1st since September.

UGA held opponents under 200 yards passing on SEVEN different occasions vs. FBS opponents and under 100+ yards THREE TIMES (Missouri, Florida, and Georgia Tech). It is interesting that of the 3 sub 100-yard allowed passing games that Georgia lost two of those (Florida and GT).

Georgia managed to limit each of its opponents to 36 yards less per game than opponents typically gained through the air or just 83% of their average. Against Louisville’s 246.8 yards per game passing the suggested range for Louisville to gain is 203-211, a slightly higher range than found above.

	Passing Offense	Georgia Allowed vs.	Deviation from Avg.	% Gained of Avg
Clemson	257.1	203	-54.1	78.96%
South Carolina	281.4	271	-10.4	96.30%
Troy	198.8	169	-29.8	85.01%
Tennessee	228	284	56	124.56%
Vanderbilt	179.1	188	8.9	104.97%
Missouri	196.2	97	-99.2	49.44%
Arkansas	190.3	296	105.7	155.54%
Florida	180.7	27	-153.7	14.94%
Kentucky	231.2	139	-92.2	60.12%
Auburn	230.7	142	-88.7	61.55%
Georgia Tech	135.2	64	-71.2	47.34%
Louisville	246.8	Average	-35.75	83.14%