Getting back to the game predictions, I think this is a 50/50 toss up. The most recent line I've seem is UGA -4.5, so Vegas certainly thinks UNC can win especially when you consider that line is likely shaded by a point with the way UNC's D ended the season and the historical ball-dropping in these season opening games and against the SEC in particular.
As we all know the game will hinge on two things:
1) UNC Run D vs. Chubb/Michell
2) Is Trubisky as good as everyone in program seems to think he will be.
Make no mistake if 2) is answered in the affirmative then we can give up 200+ yards on the ground and still win. Whether it's Lambert or Eason, Georgia won't be firing on all cylinders through the air and our secondary should be very good. As long as we don't give up 350 yards on 8.5 per carry we don't need our Run D to be anything special. Bend but don't break will give us a great chance of winning because or offense will score.
The Baylor game was a bit of a mirage imo. They mauled us in the trenches but two things were clear: we weren't prepared for the spread single wing offense they threw at us, and we didn't make any schematic changes to try and break it down. Late in the game even with way they had trampled over us while only completing a handful of passes, we were still playing two deep safeties with six guys in the box. Hell there were plays where we were outnumbered in the box at the snap of the ball. The defense basically has no chance in that scenario.
There's no way we line up and play as conservatively in this game. Chizik will be more prepared to throw multiple looks and possibly some different blitzes if the base D isn't getting it done. And our D tends to play much better against more traditional pro-style offenses than the spread. I still expect Chubb to get his and UGA will score.
They are replacing a lot of guys in the front 7 and will have a couple suspended for the opener. We should be able to run the ball and possibly wear them down as the game goes along. Their passing D was rated very highly last year but if you look at their schedule it was filled with pathetic offensive teams. Probably the two best offenses they played were Tennessee and Bama, both of whom were much more run oriented. Not saying we will cut through them like butter but I expect our offense to move the ball and score some points.
When it comes down to it I think this is a very even matchup. We seem to have the edge in experience (both coaching and on the field) but they will basically have a home crowd behind them. They have more experience in "big games" but the Clemson and Baylor games gave our squad a great snap shot of where they are and how much better they need to play to beat top teams. And the blown game against Scar could end up being a positive. Guys like Switzer aren't going to look at it from the fans' perspective of "we never win these types of games against the SEC". They know they had the Scar game won but blew it, and they saw how that anchored perceptions for the rest of the year. They'll be hungry to go out and prove they've gotten better and they won't want to have to hear all year "yeah but they lost to UGA so really who have they beaten?"
My head says that this will be a very close game that could be swung by a key turnover or big special teams play. We'll have to bring our A game to win.
My heart says it's close for 3 quarters but Hood wears them down and we pull away in the 4th. 45-28 Heels.
As we all know the game will hinge on two things:
1) UNC Run D vs. Chubb/Michell
2) Is Trubisky as good as everyone in program seems to think he will be.
Make no mistake if 2) is answered in the affirmative then we can give up 200+ yards on the ground and still win. Whether it's Lambert or Eason, Georgia won't be firing on all cylinders through the air and our secondary should be very good. As long as we don't give up 350 yards on 8.5 per carry we don't need our Run D to be anything special. Bend but don't break will give us a great chance of winning because or offense will score.
The Baylor game was a bit of a mirage imo. They mauled us in the trenches but two things were clear: we weren't prepared for the spread single wing offense they threw at us, and we didn't make any schematic changes to try and break it down. Late in the game even with way they had trampled over us while only completing a handful of passes, we were still playing two deep safeties with six guys in the box. Hell there were plays where we were outnumbered in the box at the snap of the ball. The defense basically has no chance in that scenario.
There's no way we line up and play as conservatively in this game. Chizik will be more prepared to throw multiple looks and possibly some different blitzes if the base D isn't getting it done. And our D tends to play much better against more traditional pro-style offenses than the spread. I still expect Chubb to get his and UGA will score.
They are replacing a lot of guys in the front 7 and will have a couple suspended for the opener. We should be able to run the ball and possibly wear them down as the game goes along. Their passing D was rated very highly last year but if you look at their schedule it was filled with pathetic offensive teams. Probably the two best offenses they played were Tennessee and Bama, both of whom were much more run oriented. Not saying we will cut through them like butter but I expect our offense to move the ball and score some points.
When it comes down to it I think this is a very even matchup. We seem to have the edge in experience (both coaching and on the field) but they will basically have a home crowd behind them. They have more experience in "big games" but the Clemson and Baylor games gave our squad a great snap shot of where they are and how much better they need to play to beat top teams. And the blown game against Scar could end up being a positive. Guys like Switzer aren't going to look at it from the fans' perspective of "we never win these types of games against the SEC". They know they had the Scar game won but blew it, and they saw how that anchored perceptions for the rest of the year. They'll be hungry to go out and prove they've gotten better and they won't want to have to hear all year "yeah but they lost to UGA so really who have they beaten?"
My head says that this will be a very close game that could be swung by a key turnover or big special teams play. We'll have to bring our A game to win.
My heart says it's close for 3 quarters but Hood wears them down and we pull away in the 4th. 45-28 Heels.
