3 Predictions for UNC Football program's season opener at Minnesota

No. 2: Omarion Hampton will rush for more than 46 yards

Last season, Minnesota's defense held Carolina to 105 total rushing yards. Omarion Hampton was largely bottled up, rushing for just 46 yards on 13 carries.

Don't expect that sort of production again.

Omarion Hampton comes into the season as the crown jewel of the Carolina football program. He is a preseason first-team All-American, and with good reason. He's fast, powerful, nasty, and has shown he can get into the end zone either through or past a defense.

North Carolina is replacing 80% of their starting offensive line, and they're doing so with USDA prime beef. New tackles Howard Sampson and Trevyon Green are certified monsters, standing 6'8", 325 lbs and 6'7.5", 340 lbs respectively. Georgia transfer Austin Blaske comes in at center, while Jonathan Adorno shifts to left guard, and preseason All-ACC Willie Lampkin returns to right guard after an uneasy performance at center in the Mayo Bowl.

Lampkin is the smallest offensive lineman in the starting lineup but easily the most fierce. Minnesota has some big Midwestern boys that will win their fair share of snaps at the line of scrimmage, but the UNC football program will win enough for Hampton to bust loose for some big gains and a few scores.