UNC Football at Wake Forest: Preview, info, prediction, and more

UNC football travels to Winston-Salem to face Wake Forest this upcoming weekend. It’ll be a tough matchup for Mack Brown and company.

In the grand scheme of things, North Carolina’s matchup this weekend in Winston-Salem may not mean all that much. Both teams are already bowl eligible.

The ACC Championship matchup is pretty much set in stone, as Clemson and UNC would have to essentially lose-out in order for something to change. A win this weekend would indeed help insure the Tar Heels’ chances, though.

That’s what head coach Mack Brown is likely telling his players at the moment. Additionally, Brown’s squad quietly has a chance to make the College Football Playoff still. They would have to run the table, which is five games in total if you include the ACC Championship.

Since its inception in 2014, every one-loss power-five conference winner has made the College Football Playoff. In other words, UNC football would like their chances of making it if they can indeed run the table, and that begins this weekend.

Keys to Victory for North Carolina

Turnovers. Wake Forest comes into this game on a two-game losing streak, and turnovers have been the main issue. Sam Hartman has become one of the most decorated quarterbacks in ACC history. Things haven’t well lately though.

After having just three interceptions entering their game against Louisville two weeks ago, Hartman has had six in the two games since. In fact, he didn’t throw an interception in four of their first five games.

He’s now thrown one in three straight, including three interceptions in each of the last two contests. The Demon Deacons have lost both games, dropping out of the AP Top 25 in the process. Sitting at 6-3, they’ll try to avoid a three-game losing streak this weekend.

Knock on wood, UNC’s offense has been phenomenal at taking care of the ball. In such close contests, it’s a major reason why they stand at 8-1. Star quarterback Drake Maye has just three interceptions in nine starts.

While the running backs have fumbled it a handful of times, just one of those has been lost. Whoever wins the turnover battle this weekend will be in good shape to capture a victory.

Something to Watch For

Wake is 4-1 at home this season, with their lone loss being a heartbreaking one in overtime against Clemson over a month ago.

This matchup will be all about offense, and who can get stops on defense. These are the top two scoring offenses in the ACC, both scoring over 36 points per game. Defensively, UNC allows the most points in the ACC and Wake allows the fourth-most.

While WF’s 123.3 rushing yards per contest ranks just 12th in the ACC, their 308.8 passing yards per game trails just UNC. While neither team is particularly great at running the ball, the run defenses both rank in the bottom half of the conference.

As a result, it may be a good game for both teams to get that aspect of the offense going. It’s a bit obvious, but the team’s defense that can create turnovers and hold the opposing offense to field goals will win this game.

What You Need To Know

WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels (8-1, 5-0 in ACC) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons Cavaliers (6-3, 2-3 in ACC)
WHEN? Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 7:30 PM EST
WHERE? Truist Field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
TV? ESPN2
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
WEATHER? Partly Cloudy. High of 69F
LINE? Wake Forest -3.5
LAST MEETING? North Carolina defeated Wake Forest 58-55 on November 6, 2021
ALL-TIME SERIES? North Carolina leads the series 71-36-2
PREDICTION? Wake Forest 41, North Carolina 38