Maryland @ North Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 15, 2008 ) North Carolina 15, Maryland 17

Maryland and North Carolina will conclude their seasons with an ACC meeting Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C. Maryland couldn’t gather enough victories to become bowl eligible, and the Tar Heels are banned from postseason competition this winter as a result of multiple NCAA violations. Still, both sides have reasons to finish on a high note. The Terrapins would like to end a five-game losing streak. North Carolina wouldn't mind reaching eight wins for the fourth time in five seasons.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com. LINE: North Carolina -24.5.

ABOUT MARYLAND (4-7, 2-5 ACC): Shawn Petty, the freshman scout team linebacker turned starting quarterback, will make his fourth consecutive emergency start for the Terrapins. He was pressed into action after season-ending injuries took out the top four quarterbacks on the depth chart. Petty hasn’t been bad in his new role, throwing five touchdown passes and giving up only one interception in 49 attempts.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (7-4, 4-3): The Tar Heels haven’t had any worries with their quarterback situation. Bryn Renner is coming off his third consecutive 300-yard passing game in a 37-13 victory Nov. 15 against Virginia. The junior needs 35 more passing yards to match last season’s total after 13 games (3,086) and three more touchdown passes (26). Expect him to continue looking for freshman wide receiver Quinshad Davis, who tied an ACC record with 16 receptions last week against Virginia, good for 178 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. North Carolina sophomore RB Giovani Bernard could be playing his final game for the Tar Heels. He has rushed for 1,065 yards and scored 11 touchdowns this season and there's speculation he could go high in the NFL draft.

2. Five different receivers for the Tar Heels have caught touchdown passes of 35 yards or more this season.

2. Maryland is averaging only 2.4 yards on its 435 carries this season.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 49, Maryland 3