UNC Football vs N.C. State: Game info, preview and prediction

Can the UNC Football team get back on track as they host N.C. State in Week 8 of the college football season? We have our preview

The UNC Football team returns to action on Saturday in Chapel Hill as they welcome in No. 23 N.C. State for another Atlantic Coast Conference matchup. Following their first loss of the year to Florida State last week, the Tar Heels fell to No. 14 in the rankings but they are hoping to rebound this week with a big win.

For the first time since 1993, these two teams will meet as ranked opponents in the Top 25 and it could be a turning point game for both programs.

N.C. State enters this game riding a two-game win streak and are 4-1 on the year with their lone loss coming to Virginia Tech. They also have some revenge on their minds after being blown out 41-10 in the 2019 regular season finale.

This is a different Wolfpack team that has been playing better this season but will be without their starter at quarterback. Starter Devin Leary will miss 4-8 weeks after suffering a broken left fibula in the Wolfpack’s win over Duke last week. That means it will be redshirt junior Bailey Hockman starting against the Tar Heels.

Hockman has appeared in three games this season including starting the Week 1 win vs. Wake Forest where he threw for 191 yards, a touchdown and an interception while completing 69 percent of his passes. But after he struggled against Virginia Tech tossing two interceptions, Leary earned the starting job.

UNC’s defense has struggled in the secondary at times, including last week against Florida State early on before figuring things out. They have to avoid a slow start on defense in this one and can’t let N.C. State hang around, giving Hockman confidence.

On offense, UNC really can’t avoid falling in a hole early on.

While they have the fire power to come back from deficits, you want to jump out all over your opponent in this one especially when emotions are high. You can’t have the Wolfpack hanging in the game or potentially jumping out to a lead. Getting out to that good start and building up a lead will be huge for the Tar Heels in this one and could be the big story early on.

The Wolfpack enter this game averaging 33.6 points per game but their defense is allowing 31.3 points per game this season. They are vulnerable on that defensive side of the football and the Tar Heels should look to exploit that but going uptempo and moving the ball early on. They are also allowing 421.4 yards per game including 268.2 through the air.

Could this be a big day for Sam Howell?

The quarterback is 77-119 with 1,151 YDS, 9 TD, and 4 INT on the season. He’s had a few solid games but hasn’t had that big game that we saw a few times last season. In fact, it’s been a quiet year for the sophomore quarterback and this could be a game he really breaks out for the season.

The hope is that UNC’s offense can figure it out early on and get going, which brings us to our first key….

Key to Victory for UNC

Run your offense. It seems like the Tar Heels gameplan wasn’t a good one last weekend as they came out and ran the football more than they would have liked. Florida State was ready for it and did a great job of neutralizing the Tar Heels early on and keeping them off the scoreboard.

Whatever that gameplan was, throw it out this week.

I hope Mack Brown and Phil Longo have a better offensive gameplan for the Tar Heels as they should be able to not only run on this defense but throw on them too. The N.C. State secondary isn’t very good and this could be a big day for Sam Howell through the air.

Something to Watch

Will UNC have a slow start? Before the Tar Heels rallied against Florida State, they fell into a big hole and allowed the Seminoles to get into a rhythm. In this type of game against a team you blew out last year, you don’t want to let that happen this week.

The Tar Heels need to jump out on the Wolfpack and put this one away early. Play your game, get out to a lead and don’t let up.

If UNC can do that, they should come out victorious.

What you need to know

WHAT?   N.C. State Wolfpack 4-1 (4-1 in ACC) AT North Carolina Tar Heels (3-1, 3-1 ACC)
WHEN? Saturday, October 24, NOON, ET
WHERE? Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ESPN
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
WEATHER? Partly cloudy with a high of 80
LINE? UNC -14.5
LAST MEETING? UNC beat N.C. State 41-10 in 2019
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads 67-36-6
PREDICTION? UNC 32, N.C. State 27