By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina (2–5, 0–3 ACC) at Syracuse (3–5, 1–4)
Game time: 7:30
Stadium: JMA Wireless Dome (capacity 42,784)
TV: ESPN; Anish Shroff (a Syracuse alum) play-by-play, Andre Ware analyst and Paul Carcaterra (a Syracuse alum) sideline reporter
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (affiliates list; streams on the Varsity Network app);
Jones Angell play-by-play, Bryn Renner analyst and Lee Pace sideline reporter
Streaks: Both have lost four consecutive games
Common opponent: Clemson (UNC lost at home 38–10; Syracuse won 34–21 on the road)
Line (according to FanDuel Sportsbook): Syracuse -2½
UNC vs. the spread: 4–3 — covered vs. Charlotte -17½ (20–3), Richmond -28½ (41–6), California +3½ (21–18) and Virginia +6½ (17–16); failed to cover against TCU +10½ (48–14), UCF +13½ (34–9) and Clemson -14½ (38–10)
Syracuse vs. the spread: 3–4–1 — covered vs. Clemson +16½ (34–20), SMU +17½ (31–18) and Colgate -36½ (66–24); failed to cover vs. Tennessee +14½ (41–17), Duke +9½ (28–10), Pitt +6½ (24–13) and Georgia Tech +7½ (35–20); push vs. UConn +7 (27–20)
Moneylines: UNC +110 | Syracuse -130
Over/under: 45½
— Carolina is 2–9 on Fridays and has lost in its last five Friday games, including the Oct. 17 loss at California.
— Fran Brown is in his second season as Syracuse head coach, has a 13–8 record and is meeting UNC for the first time.
— UNC leads the series 4–3 after winning the last two meetings, both in Chapel Hill: 40–7 in 2023 (the largest margin of victory in the series, with Drake Maye throwing for 442 yards) and 31–6 in 2020. Syracuse won 40–37 in two overtimes in the last meeting in the Dome in 2018.
— Carolina is last in the ACC in total offense (279.9 yards per game; 129th out of 134 nationally) and scoring offense (18.3 points per game; 124th nationally).
— UNC has no passing plays of at least 20 yards in the fourth quarter (minimum 20 attempts), the fewest in FBS.
— The Tar Heels’ defense is 25th nationally in rushing defense (110.6 yards per game allowed) and 50th in total defense (345.6 yards per game) after shutting out Virginia in the second half.
— UNC defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude has five sacks and is second in the ACC and 27th in the country in sacks at 0.71 per game
— Carolina linebacker Khmori House leads UNC with 41 tackles.
— Syracuse quarterbacks have thrown 10 interceptions, the 10th most in FBS. Sophomore Rickie Collins has thrown eight of those, going 68 of 127 (53.5%) for 733 yards and five touchdowns with 30 rushes for 102 yards and one touchdown. Collins has been the starter since Steve Angeli suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in the win at Clemson.
— Seventeen Syracuse players have made their first career starts this season. That leads the ACC and is fifth in the country.
— Syracuse tight end Dan Villari has 31 catches (the seventh-most in a season in program history for a tight end) for 365 yards (11th-most). He originally transferred from Michigan as a quarterback.
— Orange punter Jack Stonehouse leads the ACC and is fifth in the country, averaging 47.6 yards per kick.
— Syracuse linebacker David Reese is tied for the ACC lead and is fourth nationally with two fumble recoveries.
| Syracuse | National rankings | UNC |
|---|---|---|
| 25.4 (83) | Scoring offense | 18.3 (124) |
| 31.3 (114) | Scoring defense | 23.9 (63) |
| 112.9 (115) | Rushing offense | 110.9 (117) |
| 162.5 (96) | Rushing defense | 110.6 (25) |
| 285.5 (20) | Passing offense | 169.0 (118) |
| 273.9 (127) | Passing defense . | 235.0 (92) |
| 398.4 (62) | Total offense | 279.9 (129) |
| 436.4 (122) | Total defense | 345.6 (50) |
| .781 (107) | Red zone offense | .762 (113) |
| 171 (41) | First downs | 112 (131) |
| 2.00 (68) | Sacks/game | 2.00 (68) |
| 29:36 (75) | Time of possession | 28:09 (114) |
| Team | ACC | All |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Virginia | 7–1 | 10–2 |
| No. 12 Miami | 6–2 | 10–2 |
| No. 25 SMU | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| No. 24 Georgia Tech | 6–2 | 9–3 |
| Pittsburgh | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| Duke | 6–2 | 7–5 |
| Louisville | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| Wake Forest | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| California | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Clemson | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| N.C. State | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Stanford | 3–5 | 4–8 |
| Florida State | 2–6 | 5–7 |
| North Carolina | 2–6 | 4–8 |
| Virginia Tech | 2–6 | 3–9 |
| Syracuse | 1–7 | 3–9 |
| Boston College | 1–7 | 2–10 |
Friday’s result
No. 4 Georgia 16, No. 24 Georgia Tech 9
Saturday’s results
N.C. State 42, North Carolina 19
No. 12 Miami 38, Pittsburgh 7
Louisville 41, Kentucky 0
Clemson 28, South Carolina 14
Boston College 34, Syracuse 12
Duke 49, Wake Forest 32
Florida 40, Florida State 21
No. 16 Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 7
California 38, No. 25 SMU 35
No. 9 Notre Dame 49, Stanford 20
Saturday’s ACC championship game
No. 16 Virginia vs. Duke in Charlotte, 8 p.m., ABC
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent | Record/ TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | |||
| 1 | L, 48–14 | vs. TCU | 0–1 |
| 6 | W, 20–3 | at Charlotte | 1–1 |
| 13 | W, 41–6 | vs. Richmond | 2–1 |
| 20 | L, 34–9 | at UCF | 2–2 |
| October | |||
| 4 | L, 38–10 | vs. Clemson | 2–3, 0–1 ACC |
| 17 (Fri.) | L, 21–18 | at California | 2–4, 0–2 |
| 25 | L, 17–16, OT | vs. No. 16 Virginia | 2–5, 0–3 |
| 31 (Fri.) | W, 27–10 | at Syracuse | 3–5, 1–3 |
| November | |||
| 8 | W, 20–15 | vs. Stanford | 4–5, 2–3 |
| 15 | L, 28–12 | at Wake Forest | 4–6, 2–4 |
| 22 | L, 32–25 | vs. Duke | 4–7, 2–5 |
| 29 | L, 42–19 | at N.C. State | 4–8, 2–6 |
Photo via syracuse.com
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