5 Predictions for the UNC football vs. Syracuse football battle

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 23: J.J. Jones #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels signals a first down after a catch in the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

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Sep 23, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: The trend will continue

Through four games this season, the UNC football program has had a bit of a pattern in terms of early scoring output.

In the season opener, the Tar Heels got on the board first against South Carolina with an Omarion Hampton one-yard score.

The following week, Appalachian State struck first with a 46-yard field goal.

North Carolina didn’t take long to score against Minnesota in Week 3, as Drake Maye and company (mostly Nate McCollum) marched down the field in 3:13 of game time to go up 7-0 early.

Two weeks ago, the Tar Heels struggled out of the gate, as Pittsburgh got on the board first with an easy touchdown drive that chewed almost eight minutes of the first quarter game clock.

See the pattern?

The UNC football program is due to score first (as the pattern indicates), and they will, as the Tar Heels offense will look rejuvenated coming off the “bye week” to get on the board early on.

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