FSU football: Louisville game more about Noles than Cardinals

FSU football will travel to play the Louisville Cardinals Friday night for the opportunity to move to 3-0. It’s a game where oddsmakers see the Noles as slight betting favorites on the road.

One thing we heard before the LSU game from FSU players was they were concentrating on what they do and not what LSU will do.

Some folks may take that as a slight towards the other team, but it means as long as FSU football does what they practice and execute, it shouldn’t matter what the opponent does. This Louisville team falls into the same category. Here’s another way to look at it, if Louisville brings their absolute “A” game and FSU brings their absolute “A” game?

FSU should win this game. The reason why the oddsmakers have the game so close is that FSU football is still learning how to bring their “A” game. Louisville is playing at home for the first time all year, and a much-needed road win over UCF as underdogs, and they have one of the better quarterbacks in the conference.

I’m sure Louisville will be hyped and excited to play, and they’ve beaten FSU in consecutive seasons. However, if FSU goes into the game focused and doesn’t beat themselves? It’s a game they should win by 10 points or more.

FSU is the more talented team at nearly every position, with their QB as the x-factor. That’s why you heard FSU linebacker Tatum Bethune talk about not letting Malik Cunningham beat them.

He was fairly direct in saying all they have is Cunningham, and getting him on the ground is priority No. 1. He’s not wrong because Louisville allows over five yards per rush and 5.71 yards per play.

They have looked poorly coached with 19 penalties through two games. They don’t have exceptional players at their skill positions and rely heavily on Cunningham.

FSU has far more weapons on the ground and through the air, and Jordan Travis has looked better than Cunningham through two games. Most of these guys have played in hostile environments before. The biggest test isn’t Louisville.

The test is to continue to find that edge and play with a chip on their shoulder since they tasted success on a national stage their last time out. If they do that? There’s no reason FSU should lose this game Friday night.