Where: Kenan Stadium Chapel Hill, NC
When: Saturday, November 3rd, 3:45 PM
TV: ESPNU
Records: UNC 2-6, 1-3 ACC; Maryland 4-4, 1-3 ACC
Due to the incredible annoying way the TV coverage is doled out for these games this one ended up on ESPNU which means I will not see and because of the time of day it falls, listening to it on the radio might be a tough proposition as well. Enough about my troubles actually seeing the game. This game is actually a simple deal. Maryland comes in beat up in a season Ralph Fridgen has called the worst he has ever seen for injuries. The Heels come in with no substantive physical issues but a truckload questions about whether they can mentally recover from the rather inexplicable drubbing they took in Winston-Salem last week.
The skinny on Maryland is their run defense is dreadful in ways decent company forbid me from accurately describing. The problem for UNC is the Sub-Committee for Yardage Appropriations has not been the most consistent group of running backs in the world. Maryland acquits itself a little better on pass defense so this would be a good week for one of these guys(and its anyone's who it will be) to step up and have a big day. At the same time it would be nice to see the T.J. Yates and his band of speedy receivers get back on track.
The Tar Heel defense has played quite well since the beginning of the second half versus SCAR. The defensive effort against Wake Forest was quite acceptable and had UNC executed on specials teams someone may have noticed how well the defense played. The Maryland offense is fairly suspect so the UNC defense, like the running game, has an opportunity to play well and keep Maryland out of the end zone. Special teams is another story altogether and if they simply go through a game without turning the ball over, botching a good return by Brandon Tate with a penalty or giving up points I will consider myself a happy Heels fan but nearly as happy as I will be if UNC can pull this one, which I think they will.
UNC 21 Maryland 20