Gameday: UNC Squares Off With Missouri In The Independence Bowl
By Matt Hamm
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Larry Fedora may be the new head football coach at UNC. And Everett Withers may be headed to Ohio State to join Urban Meyers staff. But the Everett Withers, UNC, story still has one last chapter. Withers will coach one last game, his last in Chapel Hill against a hot Missouri team in the Independence Bowl today. Expect this to be an emotional game for the Tar Heels who love coach Withers. Everett may have a tough time also, admit tingly he spent the greater part of 4+ months hoping to get the full time gig at Carolina. As we know that didn’t work out, coaching this last game, a bowl game, has to be very bittersweet for Withers.
I expect the Heels to come out charged up, “Let’s win this one for the old ball coach” type of mentality. That energy can only carry a team so far, everybody’s motivated, this is a bowl game after all. UNC is going to have it’s hands full with Missouri, coming in on a 3 game winning streak, winners of 4 of their last 5. That stretch included wins over Texas and Texas A&M, both top 25 teams for most of the season. UNC may have the same record at 7-5, but they come into this game under entirely different circumstances. The Heels started the season 5-1, their 7-5 record is more reminiscent of their struggle to finish the season than the triumph of making through the year after the Butch Davis scandal. Missouri will have its own unique motivations as this is its final game as a member of the Big 12, next year they join the SEC.
UNC and Missouri haven’t met since 1976. The key match up to watch is UNC Running back Giovanni Bernard against a stout Missouri run defense. The freshman Bernard had a huge year racking up 1,222 yards and 13 touchdowns. Missouri’s defense, ranked second in the Big 12 in total defense and fourth in rushing defense. To make matters worse, the Mizz have played their best defense during it’s recent win streak giving up just 14 points per game.
Bernard may have a good game but it’s a safe bet UNC will have to rely heavily on its passing game to beat Missouri. QB Bryn Renner who led the ACC in passer efficiency as a sophomore will need to come up big. That got a little easier when his favorite receiver Dwight Jones was reinstated by the NCAA at the request of UNC. Jones is the X factor in this game in my opinion, he’s the one player I believe can take over the game against Missouri. He’s the best athlete on the field and has something to prove in his final game.
Look for this to be a tough, hard nosed, low scoring, defensive affair. UNC will strike first with a quick TD to big Dwight Jones on a fly from Renner. After that the Missouri defense will silence the Heels for 2 quarters. Everett Withers will have to remain patient, stick with his run game, trust his defense, and play field position football. I like the Heels if they can do that and keep this to a relatively low scoring affair. I do believe Jones and maybe Bernard could blow up in this game, I’m not expecting it to happen. It’s going to come down to 1 big play, my gut tells me it’s going to be in coach Everett Withers hands at the end. And he’s going to nail it. Whether it’s a 4th and goal, down by 6 type of situation and he calls the perfect play. Or if it’s do we kick the FG or go for it situation, he’s going to get it done tonight.
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Heels 17-Missouri 14 FINAL
Keep It Heel!