Wake Forest @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 27, 2007 ) North Carolina 10, Wake Forest 37

THE STORY: While North Carolina can’t seem to get out of its own way, Wake Forest is doing just enough to win. The Tar Heels have lost two straight games, thanks in part to critical errors. In its 59-38 setback at No. 6 Clemson last week, North Carolina committed six turnovers, including two fumbles that led to touchdowns during a 35-point third-quarter defensive meltdown. One week earlier in a six-point loss to Miami, a fumbled kickoff return put the Tar Heels in a 14-0 hole before its offense took the field. Wake Forest almost suffered a bigger embarrassment last week as it blew a double-digit lead for the second straight week. The Demon Deacons quickly took a 17-0 first-half lead against Duke, only to allow the Blue Devils to run off 23 unanswered points. But Chris Givens’ second touchdown and an opportunistic defense that forced two late turnovers was enough to give Wake Forest a 24-23 victory - its third win by seven points or less this season. North Carolina leads the all-time series 67-34-1, although Wake Forest has won the last two games.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: North Carolina -6.5.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (5-2, 4-1 ACC): The Demon Deacons have four ACC victories for only the 11th time in school history despite being in the conference since 1953. With 886 receiving yards, Givens is only 177 from matching Ricky Proehl’s single-season school record set in 1989.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (5-3, 1-3): Running back Giovani Bernard leads all freshman rushers with 101.4 yards per game. In the Tar Heels’ three losses this season, they had 10 giveaways; in their five wins, they had eight.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. North Carolina and Wake Forest met every year from 1944-2004, but twice since.

2. Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has 100 career victories.

3. Wake Forest is going for a sweep of its “Big Four” rivals (Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State) for the third straight season.

PREDICTION: Wake Forest 28, North Carolina 27 - Fortune tends to shine on teams that value the football, something the Demon Deacons have done this season and the Tar Heels have not.