Products You May Like
It’s rivalry week in North Carolina and Mack Brown’s final game as UNC football’s head coach.
The Tar Heels will try to avoid four straight losses to N.C. State and send Brown out on the right note. The Wolfpack, which will try to end Brown’s career with a loss, needs a win to become bowl eligible for the fifth straight season.
The Tar Heels (6-3, 3-4 ACC) and Wolfpack (5-6, 2-5) meet again Saturday (3:30 p.m., ACC Network) at Kenan Stadium.
N.C. State has won seven of the last 10 meetings, including three of the last four matchups in Chapel Hill. Prior to last season’s 39-20 win for the Wolfpack in Raleigh, the previous two meetings were one-score games.
10 candidates to replace Mack Brown
Here’s a look at things to watch and a score prediction for UNC vs. N.C. State.
UNC fires Mack Brown, Dave Doeren dealing with irritated NC State fans
A visit to the message boards on various websites tells you all you need to know about the feelings of UNC and N.C. State fans regarding head coaches Mack Brown and Dave Doeren. Many Tar Heels got their wish for a fresh start with the news of Brown’s firing earlier this week. It’s unlikely the final game of the regular season will have a tremendous influence on a decision regarding the future of Doeren, but it does add an extra layer of intrigue.
Doeren has led the Wolfpack to four straight seasons with eight or more wins for the first time in program history, but fans want more with the expansion of the College Football Playoff. Staff changes seem inevitable for N.C. State. Overall, the offseason could be more exciting than the actual season for fans of both programs.
Turnovers continue to rise for NC State
Only seven FBS teams have more turnovers than N.C. State, which has 21 (10 fumbles, 11 interceptions) through 11 games. In back-to-back losses against Duke and Georgia Tech, the Wolfpack combined for five turnovers. But UNC hasn’t forced a ton of takeaways, sitting 76th nationally with 14 on the season. N.C. State won the turnover battle (3-0) against the Heels last year, earning a 39-20 victory at Carter-Finley Stadium. They’ll need to do it again to win at Kenan Stadium.
Omarion Hampton vs NC State, CJ Bailey vs UNC
NC State is 54th nationally in rushing defense, allowing 138.4 yards per game. UNC is 91st nationally in passing yards allowed at 231.7 yards per game. Both areas of weakness could allow the top players on each offense to flourish this weekend. Coming off a 58-yard rushing performance at Boston College, UNC running back Omarion Hampton will try to bounce back against the Wolfpack.
Bailey: ‘We’re gonna win this game at North Carolina’
After combining for 31 yards in his first two games against N.C. State, Hampton will have to breakthrough in order for the Heels to win this weekend. Wolfpack freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who said his team will beat UNC, has a chance to prove it after a mixed bag with four TDs and four turnovers in the last two games.
UNC vs NC State score prediction
N.C. State 30, UNC 28: The Wolfpack always puts a lot of stock into this game. With bowl eligibility, continued bragging rights and the chance to send Mack Brown out with a loss on the line, expect N.C. State to bring one of its best efforts of the season in the finale. The Tar Heels are 1-3 this season against FBS teams in Chapel Hill. State is simply the safer bet to get it done.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football vs NC State: Score prediction, scouting report