North Carolina @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 26, 2009 ) North Carolina 17, Pittsburgh 19

Having overcome a 1-5 start to the season, North Carolina will be playing for more than pride against host Pittsburgh in their inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference clash on Saturday. The Tar Heels will attempt to pull within one win of becoming bowl eligible after winning three straight, including a 45-14 dismantling of Virginia last week. The Panthers can become bowl eligible by beating the Tar Heels to follow up their 28-21 win over Notre Dame — Pitt's first second-half comeback win since 2009.

Since Marquise Williams took over at quarterback for Bryn Renner, who separated his shoulder two weeks ago, North Carolina's passing attack hasn't skipped a beat, averaging 292.2 yards a game this season. Pittsburgh's Tom Savage has passed for 2,022 yards and 16 TDs with the ACC's most productive pass-catching duo in Devin Street and Tyler Boyd, whose 53 catches rank second only to Larry Fitzgerald's 13-game freshman record of 69. This will be the first meeting between the ACC's two Coastal Division squads since the Panthers' 19-17 win in the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network, ESPN3. LINE: Even

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (4-5, 3-3 ACC): As goes Williams, so go the Tar Heels, ranked No. 21 in the nation in passing per game (292.2), but a distant 109th in rushing per game (118.7). Tight end Eric Ebron is quietly having an outstanding season with 37 receptions for 541 yards and eight touchdowns. The Panthers' prolific passing attack will have its work cut out against North Carolina's defense, which has 12 interceptions and has allowed only 11 touchdowns though the air this season.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (5-4, 2-3): The Panthers' passing attack revolves around Street — Pittsburgh's all-time leading receiver with 195 catches who is third in career receiving yards (2,813). On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Aaron Donald anchors the Panthers' defense, leading the nation in tackles for loss at 2.2 per game and ranking seventh in sacks, averaging one a game. "He’s a one-man wrecking crew," North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said. "The guy’s all over the place."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Boyd already has four 100-yard receiving games, matching Fitzgerald's freshman mark at Pittsburgh.

2. The Tar Heels have outscored the opposition, 106-43, during their three-game ACC winning streak.

3. The series between the two teams began in 1974, but this will only be the eighth time that they have met.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 27, Pittsburgh 24