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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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 23: Cedric Gray #33 of the North Carolina Tar Heels defends against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Not one, not two…

As is typically the case with mobile quarterbacks, Garrett Shrader has taken his fair share of sacks this season.

In five games this season, Syracuse’s quarterback has been sacked 13 times. Over the last three weeks, Shrader has been taken down 12 times, as Purdue and Clemson sacked him five times each.

Similar to Week One against South Carolina, this is a game that the UNC football program’s defense can get to the quarterback.

We’re not saying they will sack him 9 times as they did to Spencer Rattler; that is simply a once-in-a-blue-moon type of deal. However, if they can contain Shrader, it could set the Tar Heels defense up for a big day in regards to sacks, as we expect the defense to record at least three sacks in this contest.

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