Louisville Cardinals vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Preview
Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium – Chapel Hill, NC
When: Saturday, September 9, 2017 – 12:00 PM ET
Line: Louisville Cardinals (-9.5) at North Carolina Tar Heels (+9.5); total: 62.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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Betting on the Louisville Cardinals (-380)
The Lamar Jackson show is on again like it’s 2016, as it powered the Cardinals to an exciting and explosive victory. They beat Purdue in a shootout, 35-28.
Jackson smoked the Boilermakers for 485 total yards (378 passing and 107 rushing) and also tossed a pair of touchdowns. He distributed the ball nicely, with Jaylen Smith and Dez Fitzpatrick emerging as the most productive – Smith is now on his way to be the new number one receiver, while Fitzpatrick is a sensational freshman who is certainly capable of providing fans a couple of big games and highlight plays this year.
Similar to how it was in seasons past, the backfield will only be decent at best, since Jackson pretty much has those duties covered up. Look for him to once again lead the team in ground yardage.
Reggie Bonnafon and Reggie Smith will split the rushing opportunities, and they may get the same number of attempts that former starting back, Brandon Radcliff, had (10.6 per game).
On defense, expect Louisville to remain aggressive. Although they gave up 28 points this past week, they were still on their usual ways, as they were able to fill the stat sheet – 11 QB hits/sacks, seven tackles for loss, and eight pass disruptions.
Louisville went 5-2 at home last season (3-4 ATS).
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (+310)
The Tar Heels also appeared to be on a shootout during Week 1, but unlike the Cardinals, they went home with a loss, as they bowed to California, 35-30.
LSU transfer Brandon Harris and redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt split time under center following the former’s string of miscues, which included two picks and one horribly missed throw that would’ve been an easy touchdown.
Surratt, by far, performed better than his seniority. Aside from going 18-for-28 in his throws for 161 yards and one TD, he also carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards and a rushing score. It was type of debut that should give a huge boost to his confidence. Don’t be surprised if he ends up being the official starter in the next few weeks.
Through the efficiency of Surratt and running backs Michael Carter and Jordon Brown, UNC posted 219 yards and three TDs on the ground – Carter was the most efficient among the three, as he scored twice and ran for 83 yards on 8.5 YPC.
The defense had its moments, especially in stopping the run, as they had six tackles for loss and only gave up 3.0 YPC. However, the secondary messed up so bad (allowed 363 yards and four passing TDs) that the front seven’s efforts were basically cancelled out.
Every end and linebacker will have their hands full chasing Lamar Jackson, and the suspect DBs are going to be tested often.
UNC went 4-5 at home last season (SU and ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
Louisville (-9.5) wins, but fall short of covering the spread, 31-24
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