UNC Football: 2012 Season Preview and Predictions

Previews And Predictions

Week 1: Elon
The Tar Heels will open their season against the Elon Phoenix. This Elon team should be one of the easier if not the easiest team they will face all year. Considering Elon went 5-6 last year where they were not faced with many BCS talented teams. Look for Bryn Renner to have a big day, as he did last year when the tar heels opened their season against James Madison, where he completed 22 of his 23 pass attempts for 277 yards and two touchdowns.  It should be interesting to see how well the heels have adjusted to the new tempo and offense in the off season, but ultimately they should come away with a victory.

Week 2: Wake Forest
Larry Fedora and his squad will travel to Winston Salem to face the demon deacons during week 2. Last year UNC defeated wake forest 49-27, and despite having to face this wake forest team away from home the tar heels should continue on the same path as they did last year rolling over the demon deacons and putting up high numbers while doing it. Wake Forest returns their starting quarterback Tanner Price who had a solid year throwing for 20 touchdowns, 3,017 yards, and only 6 interceptions.

Week 3: Louisville
After facing wake forest away from home during week 1 the tar heels will travel to Louisville to face the cardinals away from home also. Despite beating Charlie Strong’s squad last year, the tar heels will most likely struggle to win during this game. A second year Teddy Bridgewater with a year of experience should begin to shine for the Cardinals and in the end the tar heels will suffer a tough loss. Last year the Tar Heels defeated Louisville 14-7 in a primarily defensive game. This year it should be the the complete opposite and both teams will run up the score.

Week 4: East Carolina
The North Carolina Tar Heels will return to Chapel Hill for a match up against state rival East Carolina. Expect the heels to come ready to play after a loss against Louisville. East Carolina will start a new quarterback in this game due to the graduation of Dominique Davis who is now with Atlanta Falcons. The North Carolina defense should force many turnovers against this Pirate offense as they did last year causing  and Bryn Renner and his offense should have no trouble putting up number. UNC should come away from this one with a victory.

Week 5: Idaho
In their week 5 match up the Tar Heels will face Idaho. Along with the Elon game this should be one of the easier ones all year and expect Giovanni Bernard to run all over the Idaho offense while doing it. Last year Idaho went 2-10 finishing last in the WAC standings. This game should prove to be a big momentum game for the Tar Heels as they finish up the first half of their season.

Week 6: Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Hokies will travel to Chapel Hill for what should be an intriguing ACC match up. Frank Beamer will rely heavily on his quarterback Logan Thomas in this game and he will most likely come up big with his size, big arm, and great use of his legs to pick up yards. Last year Logan Thomas threw for 3,013 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Hokies have lost most of their backfield in the offseason and their key running back David Wilson and will now look towards their freshman for someone to step up. The Tar Heels will take this one down to the last down but in the end should be faced with a loss.

Week 7: Miami
For their week 7 match up the tar heels will travel to south beach to face Al Golden and his hurricanes. Miami loses five players on defense and seven players on offense. Their most key loss is three year starting quarterback Jacory Harris. Despite all their losses, the hurricanes will find a way to win in this one. Look for the hurricanes to extend the streak against the tar heels to 3 after this game is done.

Week 8: Duke
After stomping the Blue Devils last year in Chapel Hill the Tar Heels will continue the trend when facing Duke in Durham. Last year Duke finished 3-9 after all the pre-season hype about contending for a bowl game. Duke returns eight starters on both offense and defense. Giovanni Bernard should have a big day once again as he did last year when he was faced with the blue devil defense. Should be a good rivalry weekend for the Tar Heels .

Week 9: North Carolina State
After 5 years of losing expect the Tar Heels to break the streak! Larry Fedora has put a big emphasis on the state game this year in order to motivate his players because of the bowl ban they have been given. The Tar Heels will show up with a through the roof amount of intensity in this game and will be rewarded with a win. State will keep it close in this game led by Mike Glennon on offense and David Amerson on defense who is arguably the best cornerback in the nation.

Week 11: Georgia Tech
After a buy week and two full weeks of practice and rest, Larry Fedora and his team will face the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech who is coming off an eight win season. Georgia Tech will be led by second year starter Tevin Washington who dominated in the wildcat offense. This game should be a high scoring game due to the styles both of these teams bring to the field. Although the heels will have prepared for weeks for this game in the end turnovers will be the story of this game and the heels will fall short.

Week 12: Virginia
UNC will travel to Virginia for an acc battle against the cavaliers. Although the tar heels beat UVA the year before, Mike London and his team will be too much to handle in this one. Unc will struggle to put up points in this one when playing in front of a UVA crowd. It should be interesting to see if Virginia starts junior quarterback Michael Rocco or highly prized Alabama transfer Phillip Sims.

Week 13: Maryland
Larry Fedora will wrap up his first year as the coach of North Carolina with a home game against Maryland. Maryland is coming off an ACC worse record of 2-10 and they have given nobody any reason to believe it will be better this upcoming year. In this game the heels will lay everything on the line knowing it will be their last game of the year and will defeat Maryland while doing it. Also, after a year of off-season transfers and distractions, the Terps should not be ready to play in this one.

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