ACC GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 19 North Carolina (7-2, 3-2) at Maryland (6-3, 3-2) 
College Park, Md., Byrd Stadium, 3:30 p.m., ABC-TV
By David Droschak (posted 11-14-08)

For the first time since 1997, North Carolina controls its own destiny this late in the season. Eleven years ago, the Tar Heels were 8-0 heading into a Nov. 8 home game against juggernaut Florida State. The result was a 20-3 win by the Seminoles and the Tar Heels haven’t really been heard from on a national front since, compiling a rather mediocre 47-71 mark in the decade prior to 2008.

There really is no powerhouse standing in North Carolina’s way over the next three weeks as the regular season winds down, just a wildly inconsistent Maryland club and the last place teams from the Atlantic and Coastal divisions – Duke and N.C. State.

Miami’s victory Thursday night over Virginia Tech put the Tar Heels in the driver’s seat to play for the school’s first ACC crown in 28 seasons, since UNC holds the tie-breaker over the Hurricanes courtesy of a 28-24 victory at Miami on Sept. 27.

While the 19th-ranked Tar Heels appear to be rolling and playing their best defensive football of the season, the next three weeks are by no means a Tyler Hansbrough slam dunk. Duke and N.C. State are rivalry games – and we all know what can happen in those types of backyard battles – while the Heels have a reputation of wasting other golden opportunities against the Terrapins in College Park. Like in 1983, when a 7-0 and third-ranked team fell 28-26, which sent the Tar Heels into a late-season three-game tailspin. UNC also lost at Maryland as a Top 20 team in 1957 and 1979. And the recent history at Byrd Stadium hasn’t been anything to write home about, losing the last three by scores of 45-7, 23-7 and 59-21.

But the 2008 version of the Tar Heels are led by Butch Davis, who has experience closing the deal when he was the head coach of the Hurricanes, and by a defense that is one of the most opportunistic in the nation. And we all know coaching and defense wins the big games in college football. Look at Alabama, for starters.

The Heels have forced 28 turnovers (18 interceptions) this season to Maryland’s ACC-low 12, while UNC has scored an ACC-best 86 points in the fourth quarter. Remember what I told you about closing the deal.

Scoring on Saturday could be a major problem for the Terps, who also have a bunch to play for as the Atlantic Division begins to sort itself out. Maryland has averaged just 17.2 points in their last five ACC games. A figure close to that mark won’t get the job done against North Carolina, who has an explosive and quick-striking offense.

Wins over Boston College and Georgia Tech marked the first time the UNC program defeated ranked opponents in consecutive games since 1992. Meanwhile, the Terps are 3-0 this season against Top 25 teams and have a five-game winning streak dating to last season. It’s unlikely Maryland can make that 6-0.
If the Terps do pull off the upset, it will set up quite a showdown next weekend against Atlantic-leading Florida State in College Park.

And here’s an interesting stat to ponder: Davis and Ralph Friedgen have both coached eight seasons in college with very similar results. Davis is 62-30, while the Fridge is 62-34. I’m taking the team with the best chemistry and ability to overcome setbacks and that’s the Tar Heels in a signature road win for Carolina and Davis.

SU Prediction: North Carolina 24, Maryland 13