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Nov
8
Rivalry Week: UNC @ NCSU
Written by C. Sherwood and filed under Sports
This Saturday at noon in Carter Finley Stadium, the N.C. State - UNC rivalry takes on a new look. First year coaches Tom O’Brien and Butch Davis go head-to-head for the first time in this heated “Tobacco Road” rivalry–although neither are strangers to big rivalry games.
A matchup that just three weeks ago looked about as exciting as watching progress on the Soleil Center, now pits two teams on the up-and-up with legitimate bowl aspirations. Tom O’Brien silenced the few critics who began to question his coaching abilities by coming out of N.C. State’s bye week and winning three consecutive games, breathing new life into the Pack fanbase. Any “expert” that tells you they saw this turn around coming is lying through his or her teeth. The Pack were left for dead and what Tom O’Brien did during that bye week is nothing short of a football miracle with the number of injured stars that Pack have lost this season. 2 wins in the seasons final 3 games will leave the Pack bowl eligible.
The Tarheels come in with a 3-6 record, but have shown steady improvement as the season has progressed. The Tarheels can score points, but struggle from time-to-time defensively and are going through the growing pains associated with starting a number of freshmen and sophomores. By winning their remaining three games, the Heels become bowl eligible–an added motivation this week, although I suspect motivation is not an issue for either squad.
Look for an exciting game this weekend. The teams matchup quite well–both are coming off wins, the rivalry speaks for itself in this region and the coaching is impressive on both sidelines. I look for a back-and-forth game that will be decided during the last few possessions. My prediction is the Pack 24, Heels 21, as the homefield advantage tips the scales in favor of the Wolfpack.
The game will be televised locally on WRAL beginning at noon on Saturday. Weigh in with your game and score predictions and finalize those tailgating plans…it’s almost time for some football.
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4 Responses to “Rivalry Week: UNC @ NCSU”
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Pack by a touchdown. Carolina fans still happy because cooler weather means the wine stays chilled while tailgating.
I’ll be at the game, ready to have every homophobic epithet in the book thrown at me by drunk peckerwoods all around. If UNC’s defense keeps improving as it has over the past month, I give them the edge, especially if the Pack continues its poor defensive performance against the run.
Both teams have great kickers and return men and lousy coverage teams on KO. Somebody on some team will run back a kick.
If Evans can take advantage of the weak and green UNC secondary (5 of top 6 players are freshmen) and get the ball to Dunlap and Bowens, the Pack’s chances are great to win.
Also, there is no tailgaiting (ie, getting drunk in a parking lot) in Chapel Hill; we don’t have anywhere to go. You don’t need to chill red wine, and I had Guinness at my pesudo-tailgate in CH last weekend. You classy folks at the fairgrounds show us all how its done.
Heels, 24-21
GO PACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
re: You classy folks at the fairgrounds show us all how its done.
Agreed–on and off the field.