The Tar Heels started spring practice today, and they've got plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Expectations should be higher in Butch Davis' fourth season, but what's reasonable to expect? Here are three early predictions for UNC:

• T.J. Yates will be the starter for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff against LSU.Sure, there are plenty of UNC fans out there who want to see backup Bryn Renner take over, but the staff hasn't lost confidence in Yates, and they're the ones who make the final call. Why take a rookie into an SEC game when you've got an experienced record-setter? Yates would have to regress this spring in order for that switch to be made, but he should improve with the progress of the players around him.
• The Tar Heels will have the best secondary in the conference.All four starters -- Kendric Burney, Deunta Williams, Charles Brown and Da'Norris Searcy -- are seniors, and they have accounted for a combined 771 yards and and four touchdowns in interception returns heading to the season.
• UNC goes 4-0 against its nonconference opponents.The Tar Heels' defense will be the difference against LSU, and UNC should be able to handle a road trip to Rutgers, plus home games against East Carolina and William & Mary. If this prediction holds true, and the Heels add a win against Georgia Tech, Clemson will need to be on high alert for that Oct. 9 trip to Chapel Hill.

It's not going to be easy. UNC has questions to answer offensively and still has a lot to prove. But if offensive coordinator John Shoop and Davis get everyone in the right places -- especially up front -- this team has the ability to make a real push in the Coastal Division.