The preseason AP Poll is hot off the presses and your Louisville Cardinals are ranked #25.  If the Cards can get off to a fast start, they have a chance to climb early in the season.  Three of UofL’s opponents are in the receiving votes category; North Carolina got 32 votes, good for 29th; South Florida got 11 votes, which puts them at 34th; and UC received 3 votes, placing them tied for 39th.  All three of these teams come to PJCS, and if the Cards are as good as we think they are, all three of these games need to be wins.  Let’s take a look at the 5 teams ahead of the Cards and who they play in the first month of the season:

#24 Boise State: @#13 Michigan State, Miami (OH), BYU, @New Mexico

#23 Florida: Bowling Green, @Texas A&M, @Tennessee, UK

#22 Kansas State: Missouri State, Miami (FL), North Texas, @#4 Oklahoma

#21 Stanford: San Jose State, Duke, #1 USC, @Washington

#20 TCU: Grambling State, @Kansas, Virginia, @SMU

Louisville’s schedule in September: UK, Missouri State, UNC, @FIU, @Southern Miss

The five schools ahead of the Cards are likely to lose a game in the first month of the season.  If UofL holds serve at home and get two tough road wins, they will easily be in the Top 20 heading into conference play.