Saturday evening at Scott Stadium the South’s oldest rivalry renews as Virginia and North Carolina meet on the gridiron for the 115th time in the series. The Tar Heels hold a slight lead in the series (56-54-4) that dates back to 1892. For some weird reason the Heels Sports Information Department has the series totaled at 57-53-4. Typical arrogance we are all used to down there in "Blue Heaven"…
UNC has not won a game in Charlottesville since 1981, and they have lost 10 of the last 12 to Virginia. No one on either roster was alive the last time Carolina beat the Hoos. Another fun stat I found was that this week 20 years ago Virginia topped the polls for the first time ever. First time and last time!
Carolina’s season so far has been marred by turmoil off the field as NCAA investigators have practically moved to Chapel Hill and are examining the Heels program from top to bottom. This week Carolina announced that Marvin Austin, who chose UNC over the Wahoos, has been thrown off the team for receiving illegal benefits from an agent. Wide receiver Greg Little and defensive end Robert Quinn are also done playing football for Carolina because of travel and benefits provided to them by a professional agent.
The Tar Heels started the 2010 season 0-2, but have gotten back on track while winning 3 in a row over Rutgers, East Carolina and last Saturday’s win against Clemson. UNC has not committed a turnover in two games which is the first time since 1996 that they can say that. Carolina’s embattled head coach Butch Davis is 1-3 versus Virginia with his only win coming when we has still on the sidelines in Miami. Six scholarship players on the Heels roster are from the Commonwealth of Virginia, including one from my favorite town in Virginia, Bacon’s Castle!
Carolina’s 4th-year starting quarterback T.J. Yates is a combined 45/74 for 474 yards, three TD’s, and three costly interceptions against Virginia in his tenure. This will be his first start in Charlottesville as he missed the 2008 game with a broken ankle.
Look for tailback Johnny White, who has been playing because of the suspensions of Ryan Houston (five games so far) and Shaun Draughn (one game), to get the bulk of the carries out of the backfield. So far he has 407 yards on 73 attempts, and he also has 200 yards receiving on 15 catches. Yates’ favorite target this season is tight end Zack Pianalto who is 6-4 250 pounds and tough to cover for almost any team.
Marc Verica is still the starter for Mike London’s Wahoos. So far in 2010 he’s been best in the fourth quarter after the game is already out of hand. Lots of Virginia fans are clamoring for the backup (Metheny or Rocco) which might happen this week in the second-half if Verica continues to struggle. I think that Keith Payne will get more carries this week in an attempt to keep Carolina’s offense off the field. Payne already has equaled Sewell’s total of seven rushing TD’s last season. Watch out for Kris Burd to continue to be Virginia’s big play threat.
Senior Joe Torchia’s career is now over at Virginia because of a shoulder injury. Colter Philips and Paul Freedman will attempt to fill his shoes at the tight end position.
Defensively, Virginia was torched for 477 yards last weekend by Georgia Tech, and if the Wahoos have any chance to keep the streak alive they must rattle Yates early and not let the heels run the ball at will. Punter Jimmy Howell was my player of the game last week, but that’s the only part of the kicking game that is clicking on all cylinders.
Offensively, Virginia was 2-12 on 3rd down against Florida State, and 3-11 on 3rd down against Georgia Tech last week. That must improve a bunch if the Hoos can send the Heels down Route 29 feeling blue.
Prediction: Hoos 30 Heels 24. Payne will have a huge day, and Ras-I Dowling will get out of the statistical funk he is currently in! Go Hoos, beat the Heels!
