By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina (4–5, 2–3 ACC) at Wake Forest (6–3, 3–3)
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium (formerly known as Groves Stadium; this is the third corporate name since the Groves Stadium name was retired in 2007)
TV: The CW; Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst) and Wes Bryant (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
Series: UNC leads 73–36–2, including 31–17 at Wake Forest
Common opponent: Virginia (UNC lost at home 38–10; Wake Forest won at Virginia 16–9)
Line (according to FanDuel Sportsbook): Wake Forest -5½
UNC vs. the spread: 5–4 — covered vs. Charlotte -17½ (20–3 win), Richmond -28½ (41–6 win), California +3½ (21–18 loss ) and Virginia +6½ (17–16 loss) and at Syracuse +2½ (27–10 win); failed to cover against TCU +10½ (48–14 loss), UCF +13½ (34–9 loss), Clemson -14½ (38–10 loss) and Stanford -7½ (20–15 win).
Moneylines: UNC -188 | Wake Forest +225
Over/under: 38
What to watch
Quarterbacks and turnovers
Both quarterbacks, UNC’s Gio Lopez and Wake Forest’s Robby Ashford, have battled turnover issues. Lopez has thrown five interceptions and lost two fumbles, and Ashford has five interceptions. Avoiding turnovers will be big for both teams.
Defensive strengths and offensive weaknesses
Wake Forest’s defense is strong, allowing only 20.3 points per game, while UNC’s offense has struggled.
Running game and explosive plays
Wake Forest’s running back Demond Claiborne (top photo) is a key offensive weapon for the Deacons with 5.45 yards per carry and 714 total rushing yards, a total that’s fifth in the ACC. UNC’s ability to generate explosive runs has been limited, and have struggled when in games without them.
— This is the first of three consecutive UNC games against in-state rivals, with games at home against Duke and at N.C. State to finish the regular season.
— The last five meetings have been decided by one score, with Carolina winning the last four games after a 31–24 Tar Heels win last season in Chapel Hill.
— It’s a matchup of first-year coaches between UNC’s Bill Belichick and Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert, who went 23–20 with three bowl games in four seasons at Washington State.
— Wake Forest’s Nick Anderson leads the team in tackles with 76 (third in the ACC), including 11 each against N.C. State and Florida State.
— UNC defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude leads the ACC with 10 sacks after recording three against Stanford.
— Against the Cardinal, Abou Jaoude and Tyler Thompson became the first Carolina duo this century to each post three sacks in a game.
— Carolina leads the ACC in run defense, allowing just 75.4 rushing yards per league game. The Tar Heels have held opponents under 100 yards in the first three ACC games for the first time since 2009. ACC opponents have averaged just 2.3 yards per rush, which leads the league. Stanford had 36 rushing yards last week.
— The Tar Heels have held opponents to 21 points or fewer in each of the past four games, one of two ACC programs to do so along with Virginia. UNC hasn’t done that in four consecutive ACC games since 2000.
Wake Forest didn’t submit a depth chart.
| 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 godeacs.com
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