North Carolina @ North Carolina State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2010 ) North Carolina State 29, North Carolina 25

THE STORY: North Carolina State tries to extend its win streak against North Carolina to five when it hosts the Tar Heels in the 101st meeting . North Carolina owns a 63-31-6 edge in the series, but the Wolfpack have won seven of 11 since 2000. The Tar Heels will lean on redshirt freshman running back Giovani Bernard, who needs 35 yards to become the first 1,000-yard rusher for North Carolina since Jonathan Linton in 1997. Bernard averages 107.2 yards rushing, best among freshmen in the country. The Wolfpack, who must win three of their last four to become bowl eligible, will need a big game out of wide receiver T.J. Graham. Graham averages 177 all-purpose yards – sixth in the nation.

TV: ACC Network. LINE: North Carolina -3.5.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (6-3, 2-3 ACC): Bernard has 11 rushing touchdowns and 12 overall. WR Dwight Jones has caught 54 passes for 841 yards and scored eight TDs. The duo has a chance to become the first Tar Heel RB/WR tandem to gain 1,000 yards each in the same season. The key still could be quarterback Bryn Renner, who is sixth in the nation in passing efficiency and threw for a career-high 338 yards Saturday in a 49-24 victory over Wake Forest. Linebacker Zach Brown had nine tackles, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery in the win.

ABOUT N.C. STATE (4-4, 1-3 ACC): The Wolfpack rank 105th in the nation in rushing. If they can’t improve on that, it will be up to quarterback Mike Glennon to get the ball to Graham and others. Graham has just nine receptions for 103 yards and no touchdowns over the last four games. Glennon threw for just 130 yards with two interceptions in the 34-0 loss at Florida State last Saturday. N.C. State is giving up 28.6 points per game, but David Amerson has eight interceptions to lead the nation.

EXTRA POINTS

1. North Carolina has outscored opponents 49-0 in the first quarter of its six wins.

2. Glennon and Renner, who both have 19 touchdown passes, played for high schools less than 20 miles apart in Virginia.

3. Graham needs 76 yards to break the all-time ACC record for kickoff-return yardage.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 31, N.C. State 14 – Bernard leads the way as the Tar Heels snap their losing streak against the Wolfpack.