Part 9 of the 12 part 2014 Miami Hurricane Opponent Video Series - @Carolina 11/1

2014 North Carolina Football Preview

In Part 9 of the 2014 12 part opponent video series, I’m going to talk a little about the North Carolina Tar Heels, our opponent on Nov 1^st at Sun Life Stadium   

Lets first look at their Talent:

When you average 40.5 PPG in their last 7 games of 2013, its reason enough for QB Marquise Williams to come back. This guy is very very good, especially when you consider he’s a threat to run as well. All he did was lead the team in carries (111) and rushed for 536 yards and six touchdowns. He just happens to be a very good passer too. He had 1,698 yards, 15 TDs to just 6 picks. This team could win 10 easily. The biggest question will be the Defense. Can they step up and have a big year?  

Next, I want to talk about the Coaching:

When you look at what Larry Fedora’s team did in the 2^nd half of 2013, putting up 40.5 points a game, they became a team you didn’t want to play, because everything began to click for them This man in his 6 years of coaching (this will be year 7) has never had a losing record.
He’s only won 10 games once (2011 at Southern Miss going 12-2. This guy knows how to win.

Now, to their 2014 Schedule:

The Heels came off a 7-6 season, which included a Belk Bowl win over Cincinnati in Charlotte. There are high expectations in Chapel Hill this year. So, here’s the 2014 Tar Heels schedule and how I see their schedule play out:

In their opener, 8/30 vs. Liberty: W

In the past, its been the slow starts and strong finishes. Not in this game though. Carolina will be on fire in this one, and this is a game where you start to answer some questions, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Carolina BIG in this one.

In Week 2, 9/6 vs. San Diego State: W

They’re at home again, this time in a night game at home, and that place will be jumpin’. Look for a big game out of Williams, getting his yardage both in the air and on the ground. In this game, look for the O-Line to start to get a foothold here. They did lose C Russell Bodine to the NFL, so Fedora needs to find answers fast.  They’ll start coming in this one. Carolina comfortably here.




In week 3, 9/20 at East Carolina: W

East Carolina is tough and one a co-favorite to win the AAC, This matchup is very intriguing given the fact that the Pirates are at home. However, look for Fedora and his crew to have the Heels ready for this one. It’ll be close for about a half, maybe a little into the 3^rd quarter, but in the end, the Heels have too many weapons for the Pirates to overcome here. UNC wins comfortably over ECU.  should have his team ready to go. This game will be close but I think North Carolina has the roster to come out on top.

In week 4, 9/27 at Clemson: L

If this game were in Chapel Hill, it’d be a must watch. However, this is in Death Valley and while its still a must watch, Carolina doesn’t have the firepower to hang with Clemson in this one, especially on Defense.  Clemson hands the Heels its first loss of the season.

In week 5, 10/4 Virginia Tech: L

Is Carolina ready to win the Coastal this year? After this game, I predict the answer to be no. As good as Fedora, and he will have the Heels ready to play this one, its very dangerous to underestimate Frank Beamer and Bud Foster in big games like this. Foster’s Defense will have an answer for Williams. VT wins a close one on the road, and the Heels lose their 2^nd straight to drop them to a projected 3-2.

In Week 6 , 10/11 at Notre Dame: W

With the Irish having all the distractions about the cheating scandal up there, the stars are right for an upset here. With the Irish having FSU and Stanford, and Carolina being in the middle, everything is ripe for a Heels win, and they would want to get off a projected two game losing streak here. Carolina goes to South Bend and beats the Irish.

In Week 7, 10/18 Georgia Tech: W

GT makes the trip up to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels, who could very well be a force to deal with in the Coastal this year and add to the fact, that the Heels will coming off a huge projected win up in South Bend the week before, there’s no way, the Heels lose this one. UNC wins this one handily to move them to a projected 5-2.

In Week 8, 10/25 at Virginia: W

This will be an easy win for the Tar Heels, when you add the fact that the Cavaliers will be such disarray, and Mike London’s seat on five-alarm fire, there’s no way the Heels lose this one. Carolina BIG over UVa as Williams should put up big numbers against a Cavalier defense that’s just absolutely awful. Virginia is still rebuilding and Carolina will be too focused to lose this game.
 
In Week 9, 11/1 at Miami (FL): L

this was very close last year and Miami found a way to win late vs. the Heels. Look for another close game here. In the end, expect the CANES to win this one.

In Week 10 BYE  


In Week 11, 11/15 vs. Pittsburgh: W

After losing a projected close game in Miami, look for Carolina to be very upset and take it out on the Panthers. Look for Williams to make some big plays early and often in this one and Pitt’s running game will be no factor here. Carolina bounces back with a HUGE win.

In Week 12, 11/20 at Duke: L 


On a Thursday Night, they go to Duke to take on the Blue Devils on ESPN. It’s a short week for the Tar Heels. Carolina wants that Victory Bell back and wants to erase the sting of the Blue Devils winning the Coastal on their field. As much as Williams wants to the chance to prove he's something special on the national stage, at the end of the day, Duke will be again a little too much for the Tar Heels. Duke gets the win over UNC.

In the season finale, 11/29 vs. NC State: W

It’s a rivalry game, and its at home, Fedora’s team will be ready to go, especially after a projected tough loss to Duke nine days earlier. The Wolfpack have a dual-threat quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, however, against a defense that’s ticked off after the projected Duke loss, and it being Senior Day in Chapel Hill, UNC has the better offense and too many weapons for the Pack to overcome in this one. Give the nod to the Tar Heels to finish a projected 8-4.

My prediction on the Game vs. CANES:

We were very fortunate to get out of Chapel Hill last year with a victory. We know that Carolina will come in looking for payback, and they have the weapons on O to beat us, so its imperative for our D to come up big in this one and I believe they will. I expect Duke to have a huge game here. In the end, we’ll once again find a way to win.

In Part 10 of the 2014 series, I will talk about the team that raised the last BCS title in history, the Florida State Seminoles, our opponent on November 15^th at Sun Life Stadium.