Louisville Football: 5 reasons the Cardinals will beat North Carolina

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 02: Bobby Petrino the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images /

5. UNC lacks experience in the secondary

The North Carolina Tar Heels were expected to be good defensively this season, returning 11 of their top 13 tacklers on the defensive line.

The result in Week One, though, left much to be desired, particularly from the secondary, which is reason number one the Cardinals will win.

The Tar Heels held the Golden Bears to 106 rushing yards in the game but quarterback Ross Bowers threw for 396 passing yards and four touchdowns against them too.

North Carolina improved their run defense, a weakness in 2016, but now it’s their pass defense that could use the help.

Bowers was also picked off twice in the game but his four touchdown passes overshadowed his turnovers in the game, on the road at that.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson is no slouch and is looking to use his legs less. It doesn’t bode well for a Tar Heels defense that was exposed for 35 points in Week One in a game they were favored in.

Not to mention, wide receiver Vic Wharton had a field day in the UNC secondary. Wharton caught five passes for 156 receiving yards in the game. With the slew of talent they have at receiver, the Louisville Cardinals shouldn’t have an issue throwing the football on Saturday.

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