UNC Football vs Mercer: Game preview, info, prediction & more
UNC football faces off with Mercer in penultimate game
The North Carolina Tar Heels are only a few games, a few points and even just a few lapses in judgement away from having a winning record in Mack Brown’s first season back in Chapel Hill. They’ve lost six games to just four wins, sure, but those half-dozen losses have been by a total of just 26 points. That’s less than five points per game on average, and they haven’t dropped a single contest by more than seven.
There’s no doubt that tough losses like that can often happen for a young team, and especially one that’s figuring out new schemes under a new coaching staff. Nobody thought Brown’s return to the sideline would be an immediate success; at least in terms of victories. But then again, the Tar Heels have already doubled their win total from a season ago, and still stand in a position to earn a bowl game. That’s a pretty big step forward for a program that won just two games last year — multiple by double-digits — and looked completely disheveled most of the season.
With maybe the most promising young quarterback in college football at the helm, and a handful of young skill players, the North Carolina offense looks to be in a good position for the next couple of years. And while the defense has left a lot to be desired at times this season, a terrific incoming recruiting class that has a lot of talent and depth along the front line has the UNC coaching staff and fans excited for things to come.
For the time being, though, North Carolina needs to close out the 2019 campaign with wins in each of its last two games in order to qualify for a bowl game. That’ll require the Tar Heels to take care of business against Mercer at home this week, before going on the road against a hungry NC State team that would love to end its losing season on a high note by beating their most hated rival.
Key to the game for UNC
Red zone efficiency is the key component to a more successful UNC offense this season. The Tar Heels have been terrible inside the 20-yard-line, and much of that is because of their ineptitude to run the ball into the end zone.
Despite running the ball far more times than throwing it this season, the Tar Heels have scored just four rushing touchdowns compared to 29 passing touchdowns. That’s the second-fewest rushing touchdowns among Division I programs in the nation. If North Carolina could even out its success in the ground game with its tremendous passing game, then the Tar Heels would likely already be bowl eligible.
Player to watch
Sam Howell will likely cross the 3,000 yard mark this game, along with notching his 30th touchdown of the season. He only has six interceptions to this point, and a 68.5 QBR. Those are pretty impressive numbers for a true freshman. In fact, despite being snubbed by the recent Davey O’Brien Award watch list, Howell has some of the best numbers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the country. Look for him to continue to air the ball out to finish the season, and go into next year as the top quarterback in the ACC.
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What you need to know
WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels (4-6, 3-4 ACC) vs Mercer Bears (4-7, 3-5 Southern)
WHEN? Saturday, November 23 @ 2:30 p.m. CST
WHERE? Kenan Stadium – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ACCNX
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
WEATHER? Cloudy and chance of rain, 56 degrees
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads 1-0
PREDICTION? UNC 34, Mercer 17