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UNC Football: ESPN showing no love for Tar Heels in predictions

By Zack Pearson

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 10: Ben Humphreys #34 of the Duke Blue Devils tries to stop Michael Carter #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 10: Ben Humphreys #34 of the Duke Blue Devils tries to stop Michael Carter #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Football program is getting no love from ESPN with their 2019 season predictions that were released earlier this week

We are just a few days away until the North Carolina Tar Heels kickoff their 2019 football season with a matchup against South Carolina in Charlotte for the Belk Kickoff. UNC will open up the second era under Mack Brown after the head coach was hired in November of 2018.

The Tar Heels have struggled over the past two seasons, winning just five total games and just two conference games in that span. Those struggles led to the firing of Larry Fedora and the hiring of Brown.

With Brown back at the helm, there has been a lot of excitement surrounding the football program in hopes of turning things around. This Tar Heels team has a lot of talent but that has to translate into winning games and making a bowl this season.

While many of us are excited for the start of the season and the Tar Heels’ chances, some experts are not so high on the team.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach rolled out his predictions for the 2019 college football season including the Atlantic Coast Conference. To no one’s surprise, he had Clemson winning the ACC with a 12-0 overall record and 8-0 conference record.

But for the Tar Heels? Well, Schlabach isn’t a believer and has UNC at 4-8 overall and 1-7 in conference play, finishing dead last in the Coastal Division. Ouch. Schlabach didn’t list any UNC player or coach among his awards, nor did he name the Tar Heels in any of the “three predictions” part of the article.

On Wednesday, ESPN also rolled out their bowl projections for all 41 games and don’t have the Tar Heels listed. UNC has missed out on a bowl game in each of the past two seasons and lost to Stanford in 2016.

It’s understandable why the media may not be high on the Tar Heels this season. They haven’t proven just yet that they are ready to turn things around and make a bowl. Plus, UNC does have a tough schedule beginning with South Carolina, Miami and Clemson in their first weeks.

But this could also be used as motivation and will allow the Tar Heels to prove doubters wrong this year.

Next. Sam Howell to start vs. South Carolina. dark

For more on the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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