North Carolina @ North Carolina State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 29, 2014 ) North Carolina State 35, North Carolina 7

North Carolina has one more step on its road to the ACC title game, and rival North Carolina State would love to knock the Tar Heels down. The Wolfpack will attempt to snap North Carolina’s 10-game winning streak and shut down any outside chance it has at a spot in the College Football playoff when they host the regular-season finale on Saturday.

The Tar Heels were a disappointing 14th when the latest CFP rankings were released on Tuesday night, up three spots from last week but with only two more chances to make noise with NC State this week and a showdown against No. 1 Clemson looming in the ACC Championship game. North Carolina has looked impressive during its winning streak but owns a pair of victories against FCS foes and its lone loss – in the opener to South Carolina – looks worse every time the Gamecocks lose. The Wolfpack are bowl eligible and gave Clemson a battle on Oct. 31 in a 56-41 loss before winning two of their next three games. NC State is trying to better its win total from last regular season (seven) and had no trouble ripping the Tar Heels 35-7 in last season’s meeting.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2. LINE: North Carolina -5.5

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (10-1, 7-0 ACC): The Tar Heels escaped with a 30-27 overtime win at Virginia Tech last week to clinch the Coastal Division and a spot in the ACC Championship game, but the team should not have trouble focusing on the Wolfpack after last season’s setback. Senior quarterback Marquise Williams has thrown 17 TD passes this season, rushed for 10 more and needs 64 yards of total offense on Saturday to pass Darian Durant’s North Carolina record. Williams suffered through one of his worst games against NC State last season, when he was held to 97 passing yards and 11 rushing on 16 attempts.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (7-4, 3-4): The Wolfpack also have a quarterback that can get outside the pocket in Jacoby Brissett, though the senior is better off handing it to the guys behind him when the running game is working. North Carolina showed off its balance in a 42-29 win over Syracuse last week in which Brissett threw for a pair of scores and three different rushers found the end zone as part of a rushing attack that churned up 276 total yards. Brissett went 9-of-11 for 66 yards and three passing TDs while rushing for 167 yards and a score in last season’s meeting.

EXTRA POINTS

1. North Carolina WR Quinshad Davis (2,406) needs 42 receiving yards to pass Corey Holliday for second place on the school’s all-time list.

2. Wolfpack TE Jaylen Samuels has 14 total TDs (seven receiving, seven rushing).

3. The Tar Heels are tied for fifth in the nation in turnover margin (plus-11) and have yet to have a RB lose a fumble.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 38, North Carolina State 28