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

The Virginia Cavaliers represent the end of the easy part of the North Carolina Tar Heels conference slate. The Cavaliers are a decent foe in the ACC Coastal but under Bronco Mendenhall’s second season, the team is still working out some deficiencies.

After winning their first conference game over the Duke Blue Devils last season, the Cavaliers went on to lose their next seven games. They return a bulk of their defense (eight starters) but they ranked in the bottom of the conference in all major categories.

They do return solid players in linebacker Micah Kiser and safety Quin Blanding, but others will need to step up. Kiser and Blanding ranked first and second respectively on the team in tackles last season. They do return starting defensive end Andrew Brown as well. He led the team in tackles for loss with 13.0.

Offensively, the Cavaliers ranked 115th in the FBS in scoring offense (22.5 ppg). They return two solid receiving threats in senior wide receiver Doni Dowling and junior running back Olamide Zaccheaus. The two combined for 101 catches for 1,210 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in 2016.

The Virginia Cavaliers could put up a good fight but much like last year’s 35-14 loss in Charlottesville, they are still a bit outmatched in conference play.

Final: Virginia 10, North Carolina 31 (5-2, 3-1 ACC)