This is Bill Belichick’s pivotal game in his first season.
We always love if the football schedule ends with three rival games. At Wake Forest Saturday, at home against Duke next week and at N.C. State the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Belichick has seen a packed Kenan Stadium on Labor Day night dwindle into spotty home crowds as the season progressed. Yes, his first Tar Heel team is 4-5, but the four victories are against mid-major opponents and ACC teams near the bottom of the standings and no teams thus far going to a bowl.
Wake Forest is bowl bound with a 6-3 record and followed by two opponents who have five wins and need one more to reach the post-season. UNC’s four wins are over teams that are a combined 13-26.
Duke could certainly beat Virginia Saturday, especially if QB Chandler Morris doesn’t play for the Cavaliers. And the Blue Devils will be favored over the Tar Heels and likely over Wake Forest at home on November 29. State is an underdog at Miami Saturday but will be favored over FSU and UNC in its last two games in Raleigh.
So, if the Hoodie can upset the 6-point favorite in Winston-Salem, it will pad his first-year resume and bolster the Heels’ confidence that they can beat Duke and/or snap UNC’s four straight losses to State.
Wake Forest is ranked 39 spots ahead of UNC in NCAA total offense this season and six spots below UNC in total defense. In the ACC, the Deacons are 14th and UNC 16th on offense and, on defense, Wake Forest is second and Carolina 5th. That and the home field make the Deacons a touchdown favorite.
Robby Ashford is the next to last ranked passer in the ACC, just ahead of Carolina’s Gio Lopez. The Deacs also have the No. 5 rusher in the conference, Demond Claiborne with 714 yards, 8 touchdowns and 80 yards per game.
In total offense, Ashford is No. 12 and Lopez is No. 15. It is far from the days of Drake Maye versus Sam Hartman, but the UNC-Wake game is usually close.
The Heels have encountered small or soft crowds at Charlotte, Central Florida and Cal. Belichick will be surprised how Big Four rivals treat each other at home, sort of like visiting the Bills or the Jets in the AFC East.
“Games on Tobacco Road,” Belichick said, “we’ve certainly talked about that with a lot of people who have played in these games, coached in these games or been around them.
“Every high school kid wants to win the state championship, and when you’re playing at this level it’s important to win the state. They are a good football team no matter where they’re located. But we know it’s an in-state game, it’s going to be tough and it’s their place. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of energy in the stadium.”
Featured image via Associated Press/Chuck Burton
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
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Bill Belichick will be surprised how Big Four rivals treat each other at home, sort of like visiting the Bills or the Jets in the AFC East.
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