With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 22.
Louisville Cardinals
National title odds: 60-1 (opened 60-1)
Season win total: 8.5
FPI win total projection: 8.7
Phil Steele
Strengths: If Lamar Jackson continues to play like he did in the bowl game, then quarterback is a strength for sure. Louisville also has my No. 9 set of receivers, No. 2 linebackers and No. 23 defensive backs. Last year, the team's overall experience level was a weakness as they were No. 117 in that category, but it is now a strength as they move up to 14th-most experienced, which is the largest jump of any team in the country.
Weaknesses: While not really a weakness, Louisville's offensive line, defensive line and running backs came close to making my top-40 units, but ultimately did not. The biggest question is special teams, as they were No. 99 in my rankings last year and have to break in a new kicker and punter this year.
Over/under (8.5): Louisville is a underdog in three games this year, with road trips to Clemson and Houston and a home tilt against Florida State. That leaves them little wiggle room if they drop those three games, as the number is 8.5, which seems accurately priced to me.
National title (60-1): The Cardinals are 60-1 and they do have my No. 23-rated team in the Power Poll. I can make a case for them upsetting Florida State at home and Houston on the road. Still, playing in the same division as Florida State and Clemson, I will pass at the 60-1 odds.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
O/U: What's not to like about the Cardinals this year? QB Lamar Jackson returns fresh off his 500-yard performance in a bowl win over Texas A&M, and they also bring back running back Brandon Radcliff, who amassed almost 700 rushing yards last year along with seven TDs on the road.
They have plenty of defense returning on the other side of the ball, including former Big 12 Freshman of the Year Devonte Fields. We will find out a lot out about Bobby Petrino's team early, as Louisville faces two top-five teams (vs. FSU on Sept. 17 and at Clemson on Oct. 1) before the second day in October. The Cardinals also look to avenge an out-of-conference loss from last year when they travel to Houston in mid November. You have to think if they split vs. FSU and Clemson then they will be sitting pretty nice with the over for their season total.
I like the over, especially after hearing Jackson admit at ACC media day that he didn't really know the plays last year and just relied on his athletic ability.
Title odds: They have the talent to win their conference and get to play FSU at home, so I think this is worth a shot at 60-1.
Chris Fallica
O/U: I was all over Louisville last year and, by the looks of things, I might have been a year early with the Cardinals. By the end of the season, Lamar Jackson had clearly established himself as a dynamic playmaker at QB, something the Cardinals were missing in narrow, early-season losses to Auburn, Houston and Clemson. With 17 returning starters, including all the offensive skill players, as well as all but one of what should be a great LB-DB group, it appears all the pieces are in place for Louisville to make a run toward a 10-plus win season. Yes, the Cardinals have to play Clemson and Houston on the road and host Florida State, but they will be favored in every other game. I see 9-3 as a worst-case scenario, and who knows, an upset away from 10-2, or better. Give me the over here.
CFB Playoff odds: A lot will have to go right for Louisville to win the national title, but I'll take the optimistic approach -- I think it is worth a flier. Last year the Cardinals gave Clemson everything they had when the offense was still a work in progress. The Cardinals host FSU this year, and in 2014 nearly beat the Noles in Louisville, while last year they led FSU in the third quarter in Tallahassee. A trip to Houston could be tricky. But maybe the schedule allows Louisville to win some type of tiebreaker in the ACC. Likely, no?
There are far less talented teams than Louisville with much shorter odds than 60-1. I'd take a shot.