UNC Football vs. Western Carolina: Game preview, info, prediction and more
By Zack Pearson
UNC Football gets set to host a home game against Western Carolina on Saturday with a chance to get their 2nd win of the season
The North Carolina Tar Heels football program is hoping to end their losing streak and close out this dreadful 2018 college football season on a high note.
After losing their road finale of the season against rival Duke, the Tar Heels will play their final two games at home. First up is a date against Western Carolina, a team UNC beat 65-10 last season in Chapel Hill. With just the Catamounts standing in the way of UNC and their matchup against N.C. State, the Tar Heels would love to pick up a win before hosting the Wolfpack.
The Tar Heels have just one win on the season and are losers of six-straight games, with three of those coming by just one score. UNC has also led and been tied in the fourth quarter in four of those matchups.
But despite their struggles lately, UNC should win this game and get their second win of the season.
The Catamounts enter this game at 3-7 and are in 8th place in the Southern Conference but are on a 7-game losing streak. After starting 3-0, they have dropped their last 7 games and the previous two by double-digits.
For UNC, they shouldn’t overlook the Catamounts as it could be an all-time embarrassing loss for the program even with their struggles this season.
Head coach Larry Fedora knows how important it is for his team to keep focus on the upcoming matchup.
“I don’t expect that to happen,” Fedora said via Chapel Boro. “I believe that our leadership will do a great job in that locker room. And if we do a great job of preparing all week, there won’t be a letdown.”
A win would be a small bright spot in what is an already lost season. With these final two games closing out the year, the focus has shifted to Fedora’s job status.
Since 2015, UNC has struggled under Fedora including a 2016 season in which they returned multiple starters from that Coastal Division Championship team. Fedora has lost five-straight to Duke and N.C. State and that streak is likely to reach six next week.
There will continue to be talk regarding his job status but for now, all this team can do is go out and play. UNC has talent, we’ve seen it before this season. It’s just a matter of putting it together and getting things going.
What you need to know
WHAT? WCU 3-7 (1-7 in Southern) AT UNC 1-8 (1-6 ACC)
WHEN? Saturday, Nov. 17 3:30 p.m. ET
WHERE? Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
TV? ACC Network
RADIO? Tar Heel Sports Network. Jones Angell (play-by-play), Brian Simmons (analyst) and Lee Pace (sideline). Sirius 133, XM 385
WEATHER? Sunny with a high of 59 degrees.
LINE? UNC – 30.
PREDICTION? UNC 46, WCU 10