Louisville @ Florida State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2014 ) Florida State 42, Louisville 31

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher and his No. 8 Seminoles quickly realized they will be playing an atypical 2-3 team when Louisville comes to town Saturday. The Cardinals opened the season with three straight losses, including a pair to then-No. 7 Auburn 31-24 and No. 6 Clemson 20-17, prompting Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher to tell reporters: “Look at the film. When (our team) looks at the film, they know it. That’s a good football team, and they know it. We’ve got to go play ball.”

The Seminoles remained undefeated with an emotional 29-24 victory over instate rival Miami (Fla.) last week — their 17th consecutive victory at home and 27th ACC win in a row — as running back Dalvin Cook continues to carry the load. The sophomore rushed for 222 yards and scored three touchdowns versus the Hurricanes and averages 158.4 yards per game — second in the country to Heisman Trophy favorite Leonard Fournette of LSU — despite battling a nagging hamstring injury. “You saw Dalvin Cook, one of the best pure players in college football. That guy is something different now,” Fisher said. “I'm glad he's on my team; I know that.” The Cardinals are coming off a 20-13 victory at North Carolina State on Oct. 3 and coach Bobby Petrino said his team "got a lot accomplished" during the off week as it prepares to face the nation's No. 10 defense in points allowed at 14 per game.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: Florida State -7

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (2-3, 1-1 ACC): Quarterback Lamar Jackson is third in the nation among freshmen with a team-best 435 rushing yards, but has struggled passing with a 53.2 completion rate, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Junior wide receiver Jamari Staples, a transfer from UAB, made his Louisville debut versus N.C. State after recovering from a knee injury and caught two passes for 22 yards. "He really understands the offense. He is tall and fast and catches the ball away from his body and his hands,'' Petrino told reporters about the 6-4, 194-pound junior.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (5-0, 3-0): The Seminoles featured a new wrinkle on offense as tight ends Ryan Izzo and Mavin Saunders combined to record four receptions for 63 yards versus Miami after totaling five entering the game. "(Saunders) is developing in practice, getting better and better, learning to be that guy you can count on to put in games,” Fisher said. “He and Izzo bring a whole different dimension. When this whole thing is said and done, those two are going to be really, really good players. They have size, they can block, and they can get vertical — they’re athletic and have tremendous ball skills." Quarterback Everett Golson has eight touchdowns with zero interceptions in 2015 and has thrown 151 passes without a pick dating to last season as Florida State remains the only team in the nation without an offensive turnover.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cook averaged 43.2 yards on his eight touchdown runs this season.

2. The Cardinals had their streak of intercepting a pass end at 17 games versus N.C. State.

3. The Seminoles erased a 21-point first-half deficit to defeat Louisville 42-31 last season in the first meeting since 2002 and leads the series 13-2.

PREDICTION: Florida State 26, Louisville 23