UofL Passing Offense vs. FSU Passing Defense

Mark BlankenbakerOctober 28, 2014

	Yards	Rank
Louisville Passing Offense	225.8	72nd
FSU Passing Defense	227.9	63rd

The Seminoles allow 227.9 yards per game through the air and typically allow about 16 yards or 105% of what opponents typically have done throughout the season. Twice this season FSU has limited opponents UNDER its season average, Oklahoma State & Wake Forest. All other games the Seminoles have allowed opponents to gain more yardage than the season average.

Four of six games FSU opponents have been able to throw for over 250 yards in 4 of 6 games, with a low effort of just 86 yards gained by Wake Forest. Without Wake (although the game did happen) Florida State has allowed 287.4 yards per game through the air which would rank the Noles just in front of Tulsa at 115th in passing defense. FSU has played 3 of 6 teams in the Top 50 in passing offense, and 2 teams in the Top 30.

Louisville has used two QBs for most of the season, but the results really haven’t been too erratic. One thing that IS very interesting when you look at Louisville’s opponents are that of the 7 FBS games the Cards have played UofL has faced FIVE teams in the Top 35 in passing defense.Also very interesting is that despite Louisville’s low output through the air in 2014 Louisville has actually gained more than its opponents have allowed by 21 yards per game or 113%. In fact, the Clemson Tigers are the best secondary the Cards have faced in 2014 and the Cards actually gained 44.7 more yards than Clemson allows, with Miami just behind and Louisville gaining about more yards than average against the Hurricanes.

With DeVante Parker back in the fold for the Cards Louisville has a big opportunity against a Florida State secondary that is struggling due to a lack of pressure on the QB. Louisville MUST protect Will Gardner to gain an advantage here, and protect the football as the Seminoles do a great job of forcing fumbles.

Based on current ranges Louisville should see anywhere from 239-258 yards through the air on Saturday.

	Passing Offense	Florida State Allowed vs.	Deviation from Avg.	% Gained of Avg
Oklahoma St	246	203	-43	82.52%
Clemson	291	306	15	105.15%
NC State	225.5	359	133.5	159.20%
Wake Forest	179	86	-93	48.04%
Syracuse	197.8	256	58.2	129.42%
Notre Dame	285.1	313	27.9	109.79%
		Average	16.43	105.69%
	Passing Defense	Louisville Gained vs.	Deviation from Avg.	% Gained of Avg
Miami (FL)	171.6	206	34.4	120.05%
Virginia	236.3	203	-33.3	85.91%
FIU	188	324	136	172.34%
Wake Forest	179.8	206	26.2	114.57%
Syracuse	227.9	174	-53.9	76.35%
Clemson	167.3	212	44.7	126.72%
NC State	206.9	203	-3.9	98.12%
		Average	21.46	113.44%