North Carolina enters its Week 9 matchup at Georgia Tech as an 11.5-point favourite. The Tar Heels have been favored by greater than that in final season’s loss to the Yellow Jackets and might’t afford to take them with no consideration this yr, particularly after the loss to Virginia final week, in accordance with Inside Carolina’s Greg Barnes.
“Individuals should be properly conscious that Carolina is not previous sleepwalking in opposition to an opponent; they’re simply not there as a program but,” Barnes mentioned on The Recreation Plan present. “Carolina has misplaced 10-of-12 in Atlanta. It will be a troublesome sport. Georgia Tech has gained three straight and 4 of the final 5 in opposition to ranked ACC foes. They’ve proven an inclination to raise their play when it’s a big-time opponent that they are enjoying.”
Under, Barnes and fellow IC professional Jason Staples present an in-depth breakdown of what to anticipate from UNC, plus the gamers and matchups that can resolve whether or not the Tar Heels enhance to 7-1 or take a loss that might show deadly for its ACC title sport hopes. Listed here are the important thing storylines and the Tar Heels’ blueprint for achievement in opposition to the Yellow Jackets:
INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE LOSS TO VIRGINIA, MATCHUP WITH GEORGIA TECH
Barnes: “It is a uncommon factor for a group picked by that a lot to lose the way in which North Carolina did. There was no motive for them to lose that sport, particularly being at house in a primetime setting. We have been starting to consider that possibly this group was totally different than a few of these earlier groups that had inexplicable losses. This group hasn’t confirmed that it’s totally different. Individuals should be properly conscious that Carolina is not previous sleepwalking in opposition to an opponent; they’re simply not there as a program but. That is on the teaching employees. If final weekend was not the wake-up name that they wanted, then neglect it. This group won’t truly contend for an ACC Championship. In the event that they perceive that each time they take a snap, it is a chance to organize for the following opponent, then they’re going to get again on observe and play properly this weekend. It’s a gut-check sport. We’ll be taught rather a lot about this program.”
UNC’S HANDLING OF OMARION HAMPTON AGAINST VIRGINIA WASN’T IRRESPONSIBLE
Barnes: “Until they simply make a dramatic change, I do not know if there’s ever going to be a state of affairs the place this Carolina group is up by 10 factors and does nothing however run the ball. I’d be shocked. This isn’t something Lindsey has ever achieved. I do not assume that is good soccer today. And it isn’t like Carolina has a dominant offensive line the place they might do it anyway. Crimson zone landing share, final yr’s group was higher than this yr’s group via seven video games. You might be extra conservative, however that does not essentially imply it’s going to be three yards and a pile of mud. I perceive the frustration that Hampton did not run the ball extra late. Going again and watching it, I did not assume it was irresponsible what befell. They have been simply attempting to hit on some issues, and it simply did not work out. When you get behind chains, you are restricted with what you are able to do.”
WHY HAS ATLANTA BEEN A HOUSE OF HORRORS FOR UNC ATHLETICS?
Staples: “It’s a little bit of a thriller to me, particularly because it’s each soccer and basketball. It is weird. My greatest guess is that they most likely must maintain these guys away from The Varsity restaurant the day earlier than the sport. I do not know what is going on on. Something that will be football-specific would not account for the difficulty that basketball has had down there. A few of it simply needs to be the randomness inherent to the sport. North Carolina is a group that Georgia Tech takes actually critically and possibly places rather a lot into in each sports activities. With soccer, the weirdness of the Paul Johnson offense and attempting to defend what they did for thus lengthy makes it make sense. They did not do an excellent job in opposition to that. The bizarre factor is that it saved going after Johnson left and even when Georgia Tech was actually dangerous. I haven’t got an excellent rationalization for that.”
UNC HAS THE TALENT TO WIN A TOUGH GAME IN ATLANTA
Barnes: “Carolina has misplaced 10-of-12 in Atlanta. It will be a troublesome sport. Georgia Tech just isn’t nearly as good this yr as they have been final yr, although they have a greater quarterback. It’s a group that has performed very properly in opposition to ranked opponents. They’ve gained three straight and 4 of the final 5 in opposition to ranked ACC foes. They’ve proven an inclination to raise their play when it’s a big-time opponent that they are enjoying. Carolina, as a result of they’re the higher group, supplied they realized from final week, which I feel they may, are going to be okay. That does not imply they’ll win, however they are going to be in the best thoughts area. They have the expertise to go down there and win a troublesome sport.”
CHIP LINDSEY’S OFFENSE IS NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN PHIL LONGO’S
Barnes: “All the offseason was a critique of Phil Longo and the way he isn’t any good within the crimson zone and the way he simply didn’t have the power to run the ball after they needed to run the ball when everyone knew they have been going to run the ball. We tried to spotlight within the offseason that you are able to do some issues in another way schematically, which they’ve achieved. However the different group has gamers, too. Carolina transformed extra third and shorts final yr than Georgia and Alabama did on a share foundation. Chip Lindsey has mentioned lots of the issues Phil did, ‘You’re taking what the protection offers you.’ There was an concept that you simply herald a brand new individual, and you’ve got a very modified mindset. It is totally different, but it surely’s not that totally different.”
UNC’S D-LINE HASN’T ‘REGRESSED’ BUT SOUTH CAROLINA WAS AN OUTLIER
Staples: “I do not assume they’ve regressed. It appears to be like a bit bit like they’ve regressed as a result of they’d 16 tackles for loss within the opener. They’ve had 24 since. It isn’t that they’ve regressed; there is a huge outlier firstly of the season that gave a unique impression than what this group actually is upfront. They’d 5 tackles for loss in opposition to Virginia and 6 in opposition to Miami. These are the 2 highest totals they’ve had all season, aside from that South Carolina sport. They’re who they’re.”
THE LACK OF PRODUCTION FROM THE D-TACKLE SPOT IS DISAPPOINTING
Staples: “Perhaps essentially the most disappointing factor this season is that the defensive deal with play has been underwhelming from the bounce. Kaimon Rucker and Des Evans have been among the many higher edges within the convention. They’ve not gotten the difference-making defensive deal with play that they hoped for all season. Myles Murphy has bought 2.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. That is underwhelming. Tomari Fox has 1.5 tackles for loss. You are simply not getting a ton of manufacturing from that place. You’d hope that Travis Shaw would present you greater than he has, however he hasn’t. That is been an issue on this protection. The defensive deal with place has been actually common.”
UNC NEEDS TO GET PRESSURE ON HAYNES KING
Barnes: “Haynes King is the man that sort of makes every part click on, however they have a number of operating backs which are actually good. Georgia Tech’s offensive stats are actually spectacular. Virginia ranks No. 124th nationally at 3.0 yards per carry. Georgia Tech is No. 23 nationally at 5.1 yards per carry. Haynes King is averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Georgia Tech has not given up many sacks. King is basically good when saved clear. He isn’t excellent in any respect beneath stress. He’s a turnover machine, and Carolina must capitalize. If he is in a position to keep clear within the pocket, it is going to be robust. For those who get him beneath a bit little bit of duress, you are going to have the chance to create some turnovers. Carolina has to decelerate the operating sport. If you are able to do that, you then’re in a position to get after the quarterback and create a few of these turnover alternatives.”
LIMIT THE RUN GAME AND PROTECT OVER TOP, AND THE TAR HEELS SHOULD BE GOOD
Staples: “Georgia Tech does not have a bunch of fellows which are large. They do have some receivers who can fly. You look down the checklist of their receivers, they usually’re all guys that may run. For those who lose them, they will harm you deep. The primary precedence is to not get beat excessive. King’s completion share is beneath 60%. That is the base-level accuracy you’d count on within the faculty sport. He isn’t a man that is going to hit his goal on a regular basis.
“They will attempt to run it, run it, run it, run it. That places you in a bind defensively. It’s a must to deal with limiting that operating sport, which is basically what they do greatest. King is a really quick quarterback. They may run the soccer on you if you happen to do not take that away. You are urgent the road of scrimmage as a lot as you’ll be able to whereas preserving them from having the ability to throw deep and excessive.”
TWO KEY STATS
Barnes: “Georgia Tech ranks useless final within the ACC in speeding yards per carry. And so they’re permitting 5.3 yards per carry, which is rather a lot. Virginia is a couple of full yard higher than that. Georgia Tech leads the ACC in performs of 10-plus yards. What we’ll be speaking about is a really explosive Georgia Tech offense and a really porous Georgia Tech run protection.”
FINAL SCORE PREDICTIONS
Barnes: “Carolina misplaced all three phases of the sport final week. Carolina goes to must win with a group effort this week. All three phases should be robust to win on the street. Until Carolina wins the turnover margin, I do not see this sport being a double-digit victory for UNC. I do not see them overlaying. It has the potential to be a shootout. I do assume Carolina bounces again from the Virginia sport. Carolina is the extra gifted group. Drake Maye and Omarion Hampton are going to reply. I’ve bought North Carolina profitable this 38-31.”
Staples: “I am undecided that Carolina psychologically is in a spot the place they’re more likely to overlook this group. It is onerous to guess in opposition to Drake Maye in a sport that’s more likely to have some factors scored. It is a one-score sport. I am not comfy with the way in which that Georgia Tech runs the soccer, particularly with how they contain the quarterback within the operating sport. That is a type of video games that Carolina goes to must win on offense. You are going to have a greater displaying from the receivers and likewise from Drake to win this. I will go Carolina 38-34. This sport may very properly go the opposite approach.”
