North Carolina Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

The Old Dominion Monarchs are one of the newer FBS squads as of 2014. Their team turned in a 10-win season in 2016 which includes their first ever bowl appearance and victory. They went 10-3 and 7-1 in the Conference USA a season ago.

Old Dominion is a balanced team that return both leading rushers and receivers from last year. They need to replace starting quarterback David Washington, a wide receiver before the 2016 season started. Washington threw 31 passing touchdowns and just five interceptions with 2,836 passing yards.

Replacing Washington is key for the Monarchs but with Ray Lawry (1,255 rush yards, 11 TDs) and Jeremy Cox (732 rushing yards, 13 TDs) out of the backfield, the Monarchs could give the UNC run defense a challenge.

Related Story: North Carolina Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

Receivers Jonathan Duhart and Travis Fulgham combined for 1,213 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns last year as well. They are a likely challenge for the UNC secondary.

The Monarchs defense returns seven starters from last year’s defense but they are thin at linebacker in the experience department. If the Tar Heels can control the line of scrimmage and their offensive gets a rhythm, things could get ugly in a hurry.

The Old Dominion Monarchs face a North Carolina Tar Heels squad that last beat them 80-20 back in 2013. Four years later, the two teams face off, this time in Norfolk, Virginia.

Final: Old Dominion 24, North Carolina 35  (2-1, 0-1 ACC)