UNC Football: The 5 toughest games of 2016

#2 The Georgia Bulldogs 

2015 Record – 10-3 (5-3)

Last Meeting – UGA 7 – UNC 3 (Gator Bowl 1971)

All-Time Record – UGA leads @ 16-12-2

ESPN Way-Too-Early Ranking – 13th

Analysis

Game Time: 5:30 PM ET

Date: Saturday – September, 3rd

Location: Georgia (Chick-Fil-A Kick-Off Game)

This is the year of new faces for the Tar Heels, 3 of their toughest opponents will all be lead by a new coaching staff. Kirby Smart takes over for Mark Richt and looks to put Georgia back in the conversation for an SEC & National Title. This game could easily be listed as the biggest game of the year for the Tar Heels and I contemplated  the many reasons that it could be number one and for one reason and one reason only …

South Carolina.

Many Tar Heel fans will recall the importance of this game last year and how it essentially hurt the Tar Heels all season. Although UGA looks like a much better team than SC did on paper, there is no doubt that UNC cannot put their season in the hands of Georgia and hope that if they lose, that Georgia finishes as one of the best teams in the country. With 2 FCS opponents on the schedule, it is crucial that UNC wins this game.

Sloppy or not, a win is a win, and a win is what the Tar Heels need. In ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 from January, Georgia was originally listed behind UNC at number 19, which gives me hope in believing that the Tar Heels have a great shot at winning this game.

The Tar Heels need this game in order to have any shot at the College Football Playoff this year. Not only that, but a win over the SEC is always great on your resume.

The Tar Heels will be prepared this year and will be ready to show the country what they can do.

 Way-Too-Early Prediction 

UNC 31

UGA 17

Next: #1