North Carolina was voted the league favorite in the preseason media poll, released Wednesday afternoon as part of ACC Operation Basketball.
Advertisement
STREAKS: North Carolina’s six-game winning streak is the Heels’ longest since 1997 when they won eight straight.
Two ACC Coastal Division rivals with identical 6-1 records will meet when #23 Pitt and North Carolina square off Thursday night at Heinz Field in game that will directly impact who we could see in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship this December. They are not alone in this. The Panthers have won four consecutive games, their only loss came to unbeaten Iowa on a field goal at the end of the game….
North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Marquise William (12) runs the ball during the second half against the Wake Forest Deamon Deacons at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
THE D GENE: North Carolina has one of the most improved defenses in the country under new coordinator and former Auburn coach Gene Chizik. All three of the Coastal Division leaders are 6-1 overall. He hit from 56 yards with 1:11 left in the game in a 31-28 win at Georgia Tech, then followed that up last week with a 25-yarder as time expired for a 23-20 victory at Syracuse.
Williams is a dual-threat guy and can hurt opposing teams with his feet as well.
Sophomore running back Elijah Hood has been arguably the ACC’s top ball carrier not named Dalvin Cook at the midway point of the 2015 season.
-LB Jeff Schoettmer has been a consistent and reliable performer since walking on at North Carolina with 31 starts in the middle in the last 33 games. On the ground Qadree Ollison rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns in 23 attempts while Tyler Boyd added 34 yards.
Advertisement
DINKS AND DUNKS: Tennessee transfer Nate Peterman has settled in as the Panthers quarterback, but Pitt’s passing game is mostly short stuff. Pittsburgh will struggle to score enough points against North Carolina’s stingy defense to keep pace with the Tar Heels’ high-flying offense. Over that time, six of the nine games have been decided by single digits, including each of the last four contests.
