Pittsburgh Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

The North Carolina Tar Heels serve as the Pittsburgh Panthers’ last easy test. After the Tar Heels, the Panthers will face two tough opponents on the road (Miami and Virginia Tech) in the final weeks of the regular season.

The Tar Heels and Panthers played a close game last season, with North Carolina winning 37-36. Wide receiver Bug Howard caught a couple of two-yard receptions for touchdowns — one with two seconds remaining in the game to steal a late victory.

The good news for Pittsburgh this season: Bug Howard is gone and so is quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns in last season’s game.

Any question marks that North Carolina had to start the season should be solved, if not minimally, by November. With teams fighting for leverage late in the season in the Coastal, this game serves as a must-win for Pittsburgh if they want to remain in the title hunt.

The Panthers didn’t fare too well in the passing game last season but Quadree Henderson was the bright spot on offense. Henderson ran the ball nine times for 107 rushing yards in the game.

They’ll need Henderson and company to play well to push the envelope. The Panthers have lost the last four meetings by an average of five points. They should squeak out a close victory to snap the streak.

Final: North Carolina 30, Pittsburgh 35 (7-3, 5-1 ACC)