The Post Where I Predict The Future: 2014 Edition

A late August tradition unlike any other.

I learned a long time ago that making game predictions on the team-specific sports website you run is a no-win game. You either pick the team you're a fan of to win, or you anger your readers (who will come back and gloat when your prediction is wrong as if you didn't want the team you're a fan of to win). I don't like making people angry and I don't like being disingenuous, so usually I either refrain from predictions or only make them when I truly believe Louisville is going to win.

Along the same lines, season-long college football predictions in August are also worthless. Far too little is known and far too much has yet to happen for anyone to have any real grasp on what might take place in a November tilt between a pair of teams that have yet to take the field.

And yet, this post comes back each and every year. I'm a sucker for tradition. Plus it's kind of fun.

In the spirit of full disclosure, here are my year-by-year prediction results, beginning all the way back in 2006:

2006: PREDICTED: 11-1; ACTUAL: 11-1

2007: PREDICTED: 11-1; ACTUAL: 6-6

2008: PREDICTED: 6-6; ACTUAL: 5-7

2009: PREDICTED: 4-8; ACTUAL: 4-8

2010: PREDICTED: 5-7; ACTUAL: 6-6

2011: PREDICTED: 6-6; ACTUAL 7-5

2012: PREDICTED: 10-2; ACTUAL 10-2

2013: PREDICTED: 11-1; ACTUAL 11-1

Please keep in mind that the following predictions will have no bearing on my prediction once the actual game rolls around. For example, I picked Louisville to lose to South Florida ast season and then had an understandable change of heart when it was time to actually take on the Bulls.

I just...I just don't like to be tied down, all right?

Let's shoot for the first three-year streak of perfection in CC history.

GAME ONE: vs. MIAMI

This year more than any other it feels like having the week one result would make picking the rest of the season a much, much easier task.

Louisville throttled Miami on a neutral field less than nine months ago, but the quarterbacks from both of those teams are gone, and the Hurricanes have a handful of key players, most notably running back Duke Johnson, who were unable to play in that game back and healthy.

This game was a mystery to me when the schedule was originally released, and it remains so just three days away from kickoff. That being the case, I'm going with the coach who has always had a great deal of success in season openers, and the roster that appears slightly superior on paper.

CC Prediction: Louisville 27, Miami 24

GAME TWO: vs. MURRAY STATE

The ever-rare college football game played on just four days rest. Please, no one get hurt.

CC Prediction: Louisville 42, Murray State 13

GAME THREE: AT VIRGINIA

This is a much scarier ACC road debut than I think a lot of Louisville fans are giving it credit for. The Cavaliers have talent in the form of 19 four or five star recruits that have come to Charlottesville over the past four years. That's three more than Bobby Petrino has to work with. That talent will make a statement at some point this season, U of L fans just have to hope it isn't in September.

CC Prediction: Louisville 28, Virginia 21

GAME FOUR: AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL

Surely, they're not going to be 72-0 bad again, but it's hard to see any improvement being difference enough to make this interesting in the 4th quarter.

CC Prediction: Louisville 38, Florida International 7

GAME FIVE: vs. WAKE FOREST

The Deacs lost to Louisiana Monroe last night and are not good in football. A crowd hungry for a home game after two weeks of watching the Cards on TV still shows up in impressive numbers.

CC Prediction: Louisville 45, Wake Forest 14

GAME SIX: AT SYRACUSE

For whatever reason, Louisville has struggled with the Orange ever since the two first became conference mates nearly a decade ago. Even when the Cardinals were riding high under Petrino and Strong, and Syracuse was busy being Syracuse, the games were much tighter than the Vegas spread predicted. Unfortunately for U of L fans, the trend of disappointment against 'Cuse will follow the Cards into the ACC. A disappointing Friday night performance shatters the dream of being perfect heading into Clemson.

CC PREDICTION: Syracuse 30, Louisville 20

GAME SEVEN: AT CLEMSON

One of the biggest ACC adjustments for Louisville fans is going to be getting acclimated to the fact that the Cards now have the potential to be blown out if they don't perform up to their standards. The first lesson in this adjustment is dealt out harshly in Death Valley.

CC PREDICTION: Clemson 45, Louisville 20

GAME EIGHT: vs. NC STATE

Folks are panicking a little bit, and Bobby Petrino is stressing the need for a midseason change in mentality. The team rallies and gets the job done in a season-saving situation.

CC Prediction: Louisville 27, NC State 17

GAME NINE: vs. FLORIDA STATE

I've hinted at it before, but now I'm putting it on the record. Both Petrino and Louisville have been tremendous over the years when it comes to seizing big moments. No moment will be bigger in 2014 than this one.

CC Prediction: Louisville 35, Florida State 34

GAME TEN: AT BOSTON COLLEGE

A classic "letdown game," if you believe in that sort of thing. Except suddenly Louisville has an outside shot at playing for the ACC title, and Petrino doesn't allow his team to give anything but its best effort in Chestnut Hill.

CC Prediction: Louisville 31, Boston College 17

GAME ELEVEN: AT NOTRE DAME

I know we (and everyone else) like to rip on them for being overrated all the time, but this is a pretty talented Fighting Irish team that will be welcoming the Cards to South Bend on Senior Day. It's going to take a monumental effort to pull this one out, but regardless, seeing Louisville run onto the field inside Notre Dame Stadium is going to be quite an experience.

CC Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Louisville 21

GAME TWELVE vs. KENTUCKY

The Cards have won three straight over their in-state rivals, but the last two haven't been overly impressive. Having this game as the last game on the schedule would seem to be more trouble for the favored team, but one of the best things about having Petrino back is that we know he won't allow his guys to overlook Kentucky. And if he has the opportunity to bury the Cats, you know he's going to do it. It isn't quite a first Petrino era-esque beatdown, but it's enough.

CC Prediction: Louisville 33, Kentucky 17

FINAL RECORD: 9-3 (6-2)

Full admission: I went into this post with every intention of predicting an 8-4 season for the Cards, but with every publication in the world seemingly predicting the same thing, it's almost a guarantee that it won't happen. I'll err on the side of going over eight wins, especially if the Cards are in fact able to shock the college football world on the day before Halloween.