Rutgers @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2010 ) North Carolina 17, Rutgers 13

THE STORY: What can Bryn Renner do for an encore? The North Carolina sophomore set an ACC record by completing 95.7 percent of his passes (22 of 23 for 277 yards, 2 TDs) in the season-opening 42-10 win over James Madison. It was his first college start. Saturday’s opponent, Rutgers, figures to bring a lot more pressure. The Scarlet Knights had nine sacks in their opener, a 48-0 romp over North Carolina Central. UNC won last year’s meeting 17-13 at Rutgers.

TV: ACC Network. LINE: North Carolina -10.5

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (1-0): Interim coach Everett Withers played 21 freshmen in the opener, including 10 true freshmen. But aside from Renner, senior RB Ryan Houston made the biggest impact, running for 59 yards and a TD on nine carries and catching three balls for 36 yards. Houston was held out in the first half of last season due to eligibility concerns, then elected to redshirt so he could play a full season this year. It wasn’t all good news for the running game, however, as senior FB Devon Ramsay tore his ACL and MCL in the opener.

ABOUT RUTGERS (1-0): Coach Greg Schiano is calling this a “barometer” game for his team, which went 4-8 last season. Rutgers plans to use explosive RB Jeremy Deering more as he continues to get further away from his August concussion. The Scarlet Knights averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in their opener. QB Chas Dodd is developing good chemistry with WR Mohamed Sanu, who had seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown last week. Rutgers’ nine sacks were more than half its 2010 total of 17.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Rutgers leads the all-time series 3-2.

2. Tar Heels CB Charles Brown returns to the lineup Saturday after missing last season because of academic misconduct and the 2011 opener for accepting improper benefits.

3. Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano, once a hot commodity, is 60-63 at Rutgers.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 31, Rutgers 20 – Renner is the real deal, and he has excellent weapons around him.