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CARDINALS

Healthy Louisville ready for FSU

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj
Louisville's DeVante Parker had nine receptions for 132 yards against NC State Saturday. Oct. 18, 2014

The University of Louisville football team finally fielding its expected starters for the first time this season was a refreshing experience for the Cardinals two weekends ago.

U of L having its full lineup against No. 2 Florida State for Thursday night's much-anticipated 7:30 p.m. kickoff on national television is a necessity if the Cardinals want to beat the reigning national champion.

It sounds like they'll have just that when they take on the Seminoles in one of the biggest games in recent program history.

Star linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin (hamstring) and leading receiver James Quick (ankle) practiced the past two days and expect to play against FSU, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said.

"I think we've looked as sharp in these last couple weeks as we have (all season)," Petrino said.

"I felt like, coming out of the last game against North Carolina State, that was the closest we looked to our offense and being able to do the things we like to do on offense."

As if the Mauldin and Quick news wasn't enough of a boost for Louisville, Petrino heaped praise on U of L's most talented receiver DeVante Parker and running back Michael Dyer, the two stars of the Cardinals' 30-18 win over NC State back on Oct. 18.

In his return after missing Louisville's first seven games due to foot surgery, Parker caught nine passes for 132 yards and looked very much like the potential first-round NFL draft pick that many expect him to be.

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Dyer, hobbled by various injuries since arriving at Louisville before the 2013 season, ran 24 times for 173 yards and a touchdown.

"The last couple days, (Parker) looked back as himself, really exploding off catches, and it feels a lot better for him," Petrino said.

A few moments later, he turned to Dyer.

"Michael looks even better than he did before the North Carolina State game," Petrino said.

That's all good news for Louisville (6-2, 4-2 ACC) after an up-and-down start to the 2014 season, and it contrasts with FSU's start to the week.

The Seminoles, already dealing with several controversies surrounding Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston, may not have starting running back Karlos Williams for Thursday's game.

The tailback's status with the team is "under review" by FSU after Tallahassee, Fla., police named Williams as a suspect in a domestic battery case, the school said.

Williams, who practiced with the team on Monday, leads FSU with 378 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

But Petrino and Louisville are preparing for FSU's full-powered attack.

The Seminoles have won 23 consecutive games. Three of their seven wins this season have been decided by six or fewer points, including a 31-27 thriller against Notre Dame on Oct. 18.

FSU's passing offense, built around Winston, ranks 14th in the nation, averaging 316.7 yards a game. The Seminoles lead the ACC in total and scoring offense.

Those numbers have offset middling defensive and rushing stats for Jimbo Fisher's team. It helps that FSU has scored 33 times in 34 trips inside opponents' 20-yard line, including 23 touchdowns.

"There's not a big difference between winning and losing, and they know how to win," Petrino said. "They've got guys in their program who have confidence in coming from behind. You have to learn how to win. Obviously they know how to do that."

Louisville can battle that FSU determination with focus and preparation, Petrino said.

Oh, and it helps to be healthy.

"We were in sort of a scramble mode. We had guys dropping," Petrino said. "It's nice to have all our weapons back."

Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).