For a Thanksgiving day helping of rivalry week disdain, click here. Otherwise, there’s football to be played at Carolina-Friendly Stadium on Saturday. Personally, I can’t wait for this game. I love having State at the end of the season, as it makes for a relevant and interesting game on Thanksgiving weekend (sorry, Duke fans). Nothing gets your blood running like good, old-fashioned hate, which this rivalry is. Yes, it’s envy on their side just a bit, but it makes the game fun. If anyone has an extra ticket, I promise to be civil.
Stats and Trends
Although the Wolfpack has won the last two games in this series, Carolina holds a 63-29-6 advantage all-time, and has won 5 of 7 in Raleigh. An interesting note from this week’s release on the game is that the team with more rushing yards has won 16 of the past 17 meetings. While State probably has the better rushing attack, Carolina has by far the less porous defense. I’ll call it a push while ever-so-slightly favoring Carolina.
Russell Wilson, who holds the NCAA record for consecutive throws without an interception, has now thrown 11 in the past 6 games (he threw two last season). While this is due to the offense being forced to carry the team, it does show that State can be forced into mistakes.
With 508 interception return yards, Carolina leads the nation in that category by a wide margin (Clemson is second with 396). With two interceptions, the Heels will tie the 1972 team’s record with 21 interceptions for the season.
While on the subject of defense, it should be noted that the Heels rank behind four teams in yards allowed per game at 261.6. The teams ahead of them? Alabama, Florida, Texas, and TCU. It’s worth mentioning that those teams are a combined 44-0 this season.
Players to Watch
N.C. State DE Willie Young: As the senior leader of the Wolfpack defense, it is pivotal to State’s chances that Young gets pressure on T.J. Yates. Carolina will try to pick apart the back seven through the short and intermediate passing game, so he won’t have much time to get there.
UNC KR/WR/HB Johnny White: With the injuries in the backfield, we will see White’s roles expanded yet again. He has been an impact player on special teams all season long as a gunner and returner, and State’s porous kickoff coverage could give him a chance for big plays. We’ll also see him lined up all over the field on offense. I think he has a breakout game.
N.C. State OC Dana Bible: Not a player, but I want to wish him the best. If you haven’t heard, Bible was diagnosed with leukemia this past weekend. Rivalry or not, there are some things bigger than football. Rest assured that Tar Heel nation is behind you, Coach.
For Carolina to win
The Heels need to set up the vertical passing game with Ryan Houston and the power running. If he can break into the second level and get the defensive backs to cheat up, it will open up all kinds of windows vs. State’s inexperienced secondary. It’s not fair to ask for the turnovers to keep going Carolina’s way, but a few more mistakes by N.C. State certainly wouldn’t hurt.
For State to win
They’ll be passionate in front of their home crowd, playing for one of their coaches, in their version of the Super Bowl. I look for them to play their best game of the season (and remember they handed Pittsburgh their only loss), and play a tough brand of football. If they can fly around the football on defense and the offensive line lets Russell Wilson do his thing, the Heels could be in for a long day.
Fearless Prediction
I’m not gonna lie, this prediction is anything but fearless. Regardless, Heels 27, Wolfpack 22.
Around the ACC
Ah, rivalry week. If I can’t find a ticket to CFS, I’ll be treated to a bevy of good games. It’s been a fun season at RTTB, and hopefully they’ll let (those of us fortunate enough to work for teams going to bowls) stick around.
Last week 5-0 (finally!) Overall 58-23
#15 Clemson 35, South Carolina 17: If not for South Carolina’s annual late-season nosedive, I would pick this to be a lot closer and possibly an upset. As it stands, however, I think this may be it for Steve Spurrier.
Duke 31, Wake Forest 27: Should be a good, if not irrelevant, game between two of the most decorated quarterbacks in their schools’ histories. I’ll take the Dukies since they’re at home and playing for a .500 record for the first time in 15 years.
#1 Florida 52, Florida State 24: Sadly, the Seminoles’ defense is one of the weakest Tebow & Co. has faced all season. I think the Gators walk over FSU, and you start to hear ‘Tebow for Heisman’ cries from the media after his final home game.
Maryland 21, Boston College 13: Why not? I saw nothing too impressive about the Eagles last Saturday, and the Terps are due to win one.
South Florida 34, #19 Miami 20: Get Jim Leavitt on the phone with Urban Meyer, and let’s see if he can sweep Florida’s ‘Big Three’ next year.
#14 Virginia Tech 24, Virginia 0: I’d LOVE for the Wahoos to pull off the upset and improve Carolina’s bowl standing, unfortunately that just isn’t going to happen.
#7 Georgia Tech 44, Georgia 35: As ACC fans, we NEED the Yellow Jackets to win this one. A loss has talking heads again bemoaning the weakness of the conference, which hurts our chances next season when as many as 5 teams (I see both Techs, Miami, UNC, and Clemson) could compete for BCS berths.