UNC vs Louisville Odds & Prediction
The Louisville Cardinals are considered the cream of the crop in the Big East, but the Cardinals are hoping to accomplish even bigger things this year. Louisville has started the season off with two wins, but this will be their biggest test of the season.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Louisville Cardinals
Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville Kentucky
Saturday September 15, 3:30 PM EST on ABC/ESPN2
College Football Betting Odds from TopBet
Moneyline: Louisville (-155) North Carolina (+135)
College Football Spread: Louisville -3 (-110) vs. North Carolina +3 (-110)
Over/Under: 55.5
Larry Fedora is bringing a new system to North Carolina. The Tar Heels lost a heart breaker last week against Wake Forest. Let’s take a look at this matchup.
North Carolina
Larry Fedora was extremely successful at Southern Miss, and North Carolina hired him in the offseason. The Tar Heels haven’t been a terrible team over the last few years, but they are looking to become an annual competitor for the top spot in the ACC. Bryn Renner gives the team a very talented quarterback who is capable of big things. Renner started last year as a freshman and showed flashes of brilliance. Renner needs to cut down on interceptions, but he is still young and I would expect that to come with time. Junior A.J. Blue has become the Tar Heels leading rusher this season. North Carolina has a decent offensive line, but they don’t have the skill position players you would expect on offense around Renner.
The Tar Heels defense shut down the run last week against Wake Forest, but they allowed the Demon Deacons to throw for 362 yards. The pass rush isn’t too impressive, and the secondary is a weak spot. Expect Louisville to test that secondary again in this one. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Louisville
Charlie Strong has been great for the Louisville football program. Strong was an assistant coach under Urban Meyer at Florida, and he is a great motivator and terrific recruiter. Teddy Bridgewater was the big signing that seems to have really taken this team to the next level. Bridgewater had an amazing freshman season in 2011, and he is completing 82% of his passes through the first two games of 2012. There aren’t many quarterbacks in the nation with as high of a ceiling as Bridgewater.
If Louisville is going to take that next step this year, they’ll need the running game to get better. The team struggled to run the ball against almost everyone last year. Louisville has run the ball well so far this year, but they have played two poor defensive fronts. Defensively, Louisville doesn’t have a ton of experience, but this unit should improve as the year moves on. Strong has a defensive background, and Louisville has a lot of team speed at key positions on the defensive side of the ball.
Both of these teams should be able to air it out against the opponent in this one. I think Bridgewater has more weapons around him than Renner. Louisville at home as a small favorite looks like the best way to play this one.
Free College Football Pick: Louisville -3
