Week 1 wasn’t great for the ACC. Florida State was dominated by Alabama, North Carolina was stunned at home and No. 16 Louisville barely escaped a bad team. The Cards and Heels square off in big early-season conference game on Saturday in College Football Week 2. As of now, the Tar Heels head into this game as underdogs in the NCAAF lines.
The Tar Heels’ offense committed three turnovers Saturday. But the defense prevented the Golden Bears from converting those into any points. And a season removed from registering just one interception, UNC doubled that total with one by Miles and another by Andre Smith. Myles Dorn also made several quality plays in the secondary. But it was that part of the defense that appeared to struggle the most down the stretch. This isn’t unchartered territory for UNC.
In 2015, the Tar Heels dropped the season opener against South Carolina before winning 11 straight games, appearing in the ACC Championship game and then playing in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Last year, they lost to Georgia, but rebounded with seven victories over the next eight games – which included memorable wins over Pittsburgh and Florida State.
Saturday’s game against Louisville and 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Jackson marks the first time UNC has played a reigning Heisman since facing Ohio State’s Archie Griffin in Columbus, Ohio, in 1975.
Louisville at North Carolina NCAAF Lines & Game Preview for Week 2
When: Saturday, Sept. 9, Noon ET Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill TV: ESPN Stream: WatchESPN Radio: WHAS 840 AM (Louisville) / 97.9 FM (North Carolina) Opening College Football Week 2 Lines: Louisville -10 (63.5)NEWS: @UofLFootball remains on the road, opens ACC play at North Carolina on Saturday. Full report ➡️ https://t.co/vO2UWoH4nv pic.twitter.com/67Dwegr3J3
— LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) September 5, 2017
Weather Forecast
- Clear: 23°C/73°F
- Humidity: 48%
- Precipitation: 0%
- Wind: 6 mph NE
- Cloud Cover: 11%
- Type of Stadium: Open
Series History
Louisville leads, 4-3. In the last meeting, Louisville bested North Carolina, 39-34, on Sept. 15, 2012, at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.- Total Meetings: 7
- First Meeting: September 24th, 1988. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Last Meeting: September 15th, 2012. Louisville, Kentucky
- All-Time Series: Louisville 4-3-0
- Largest Margin of Victory: Louisville 69-14
- Longest Win Streak: Tied 2
- Current Win Streak: Louisville 1 (2012)
Why Bet On Louisville?
The Cardinals beat Purdue 35-28 thanks to reigning Heisman winner Lamar Jackson. He threw two touchdown passes and compiled 485 total yards Saturday. The mistake-prone Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak. Jackson was the difference. He went 30 of 46 with 378 yards through the air while running 21 times for 107 yards. He also moved into the top five in school history on TD passes and yards rushing. And when Louisville (1-0) needed the defending Heisman Trophy winner to be at his best in the fourth quarter, he didn’t disappoint. Jackson hooked up with Dez Fitzpatrick on a 20-yard score with 9:01 remaining to give the Cardinals a 32-28 lead then drove them into field goal position on the ensuing possession to make it a seven-point game. Louisville finished with 146 rushing yards (107 of which were via Jackson). And if it doesn’t seem like that was too bad, consider this: Purdue was 13th out of 14 teams in the Big Ten last season in run defense, allowing 238.4 yards on the ground per game. It was the Cardinals’ first victory over a Big Ten team since 1998, when Louisville beat Illinois 35-9 in Champaign on Sept. 19. Louisville’s defense finished the game with three interceptions. It is the most since the Cardinals tallied three against NC State in 2016. The Cardinals registered seven tackles for loss, the third time in four season openers reaching that mark. Louisville also achieved the feat against Miami in 2014 and Charlotte in 2016. Under head coach Bobby Petrino, Louisville is 22-5 in the month of September. The Cardinals are 31-16 in nonconference play under Petrino. Louisville is 257-25 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. Under Petrino, Louisville is 55-7 when reaching that mark. One of Louisville’s best defensive players, Jaire Alexander, was hurt in the game. Alexander, a preseason All-American in some circles who is also viewed as a potential first-round NFL draft pick, was hurt returning a blocked field goal in the second quarter of the game. He was helped off the field and did not return after receiving medical attention on the Cards’ sideline. He’s being called day-to-day.Why Bet On North Carolina?
The Heels lost 35-30 at home to California. Michael Carter scored twice for UNC (0-1), which started LSU graduate transfer Brandon Harris at quarterback but leaned more on redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt. Harris started at quarterback, played two series, then Surratt played the third according to a pre- ordained rotation set by Larry Fedora and quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf. From there, the idea was to go by feel and results. Surratt had the more impressive numbers — 18-of- 28 passes, no turnovers and 66 yards rushing — and he was the quarterback on all four of the Tar Heels’ touchdown drives. Carter rushed for 94 yards. Jordon Brown also added 56 yards on the ground and 53 receiving. The offense also played with more efficiency with Surratt at quarterback. Even so, Fedora said he wouldn’t make a long-term decision based on a single game.
The Tar Heels’ offense committed three turnovers Saturday. But the defense prevented the Golden Bears from converting those into any points. And a season removed from registering just one interception, UNC doubled that total with one by Miles and another by Andre Smith. Myles Dorn also made several quality plays in the secondary. But it was that part of the defense that appeared to struggle the most down the stretch. This isn’t unchartered territory for UNC.
In 2015, the Tar Heels dropped the season opener against South Carolina before winning 11 straight games, appearing in the ACC Championship game and then playing in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Last year, they lost to Georgia, but rebounded with seven victories over the next eight games – which included memorable wins over Pittsburgh and Florida State.
Saturday’s game against Louisville and 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Jackson marks the first time UNC has played a reigning Heisman since facing Ohio State’s Archie Griffin in Columbus, Ohio, in 1975.
Latest College Football Week 2 Betting Trends
- Louisville is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games
- Louisville is 16-5 SU in the last 21 games
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Louisville’s last 5 games
- North Carolina is 17-8 SU in the last 25 games
- North Carolina is 1-4 SU in the last 5 games
- The total went UNDER in 4 of North Carolina’s last 5 games
