North Carolina @ NC State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 24, 2018 ) NC State 34, North Carolina 28

North Carolina has a little bit more to play for, but that doesn’t matter much in a rivalry game as the Tar Heels visit North Carolina State on Saturday night in the ACC regular-season finale. North Carolina, which started the season with two wins, needs one victory to clinch bowl eligibility after rolling past FCS Mercer 56-7 last week and the injury-plagued Wolfpack would like nothing more than to squash the Tar Heels’ dreams.

The Tar Heels had lost six of eight games by a total of 26 points, including a 21-20 setback against No. 3 Clemson on Sept. 28, before the Mercer victory but they are upbeat after winning five games combined the previous two seasons and have plenty of confidence to finish strong in 2019. “I think there has been a complete change in the culture with this team,” North Carolina senior offensive lineman Charlie Heck told reporters. “Our record isn’t the best right now, but I think everybody can agree that this is a completely different team. We are in every single game, we aren’t giving up, we are battling to the last second. It is going to be a great last game against N.C. State.” The Wolfpack have lost five straight contests after falling 28-26 to Georgia Tech on Nov. 21 and will finish with a record under .500 for the first time since 2013. N.C. State scored its most points since Sept. 28 last time out and freshman running back Zonovan Knight has emerged as a major threat with 300 yards rushing combined over the last three games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: North Carolina -9

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (5-6, 3-4 ACC): Freshman Sam Howell owns the school record with 32 touchdown passes, after tossing three last week, to go along with just six interceptions and needs 54 passing yards to reach 3,000. Junior Dazz Newsome is expected to return from a one-game team suspension and leads the team with 57 catches and 817 yards receiving with seven TDs while sophomore Dyami Brown has 40 receptions for 797 yards and 10 scores. Junior Michael Carter ran for 159 yards against Mercer to take over the team lead with 822 and sophomore Javonte Williams is close behind with 790 - 144 versus Georgia Tech.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (4-7, 1-6): Freshman quarterback Devin Leary has shown some progress in the last two games, throwing for 243 yards against Louisville before accumulating 227 through the air versus Georgia Tech. Freshman Jordan Houston ran for a season-high 89 yards against the Yellow Jackets to support Knight’s exploits and junior Emeka Emezie leads the receiving corps with 54 catches and 528 yards with two touchdowns. Senior defensive tackle Larrell Murchison has a team-leading seven sacks, but none in the last five games, and sophomore safety Tanner Ingle tops the team with 68 tackles.

EXTRA POINTS

1. North Carolina junior LB Chazz Surratt is tied for second in the ACC with 100 tackles and has five sacks to go along with an interception.

2. N.C. State senior WR Tabari Hines had a season-high 88 yards receiving on four receptions last week.

3. The Wolfpack have won the last three meetings, but the Tar Heels lead the series 66-36-6.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 31, North Carolina State 27