North Carolina Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017
Week 12 is Rivalry Week. The North Carolina Tar Heels travel on the road, a few miles up the road to face the NC State Wolfpack. The Tar Heels fell in last year’s annual matchup 28-21, becoming the Wolfpack’s sixth victory, the rites of bowl passage.
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The Wolfpack would go on to defeat Vanderbilt 41-17 in the Independence Bowl. The Tar Heels have won three of the last five meetings, however, last season’s victory in Chapel Hill exposed a number of North Carolina’s shortcomings.
NC State rushed for 259 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on offense. The game was 28-7 in the third before the Tar Heels made a comeback that fell short in the fourth quarter.
The offense shouldn’t skip a beat with Jaylen Samuels being their featured playmaker. Samuels caught 55 receptions for 565 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
The Wolfpack defense held the Tar Heels to 133 rushing yards, although they gave up 280 passing yards and three touchdowns to Mitch Trubisky in the game. Trubisky is gone but eight starters from NC State return from that game.
The entire Wolfpack defensive line is expected to be wreaking havoc in the ACC by November, especially on senior day. Defensive end Bradley Chubb and company should have a big day in his final game in Raleigh.
Final: NC State 35, North Carolina 30 (6-6, 3-5 ACC)
End of regular season: 6-6 (3-5 ACC)
The 2017 campaign will be an interesting season for the Tar Heels after going 8-5 in 2016. Earning a bowl bid would be great but winning one would be even better. The Tar Heels have lost three straight bowl games under Fedora since 2014. The Tar Heels have a tough stretch in their final four games of ACC play. Facing the Louisville Cardinals in the first ACC game of the year isn’t easy either, but hey, welcome to the ACC.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels can consider the rollercoaster over. They’ll need to adjust as the season goes on if Brandon Harris doesn’t work out.
The Tar Heels may not get the same effect Mitch Trubisky had on the offense with former quarterback Brandon Harris as starter. Harris hasn’t been the most accurate quarterback in his career. He’s completed 53.9 percent of his passes.
Harris has thrown for 2,756 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his career. In the pass-heavy Tar Heels’ offense, he could find some trouble with the talented secondaries across the conference.