No. 17 North Carolina vs Georgia Tech: first look, betting odds, key matchup, TV

North Carolina planned on going to Atlanta this week with a score to settle against Georgia Tech.

Now, the No. 17 Tar Heels have two scores to settle.

UNC wants to atone for a 21-17 upset loss to Georgia Tech last season at Kenan Stadium. It was a disturbing defeat that was the first of four straight as the Heels’ season, in center Corey Gaynor’s words, “fell off a cliff.”

But after Saturday’s game against Virginia, the Tar Heels also will look to atone for another upset loss at Kenan after the Cavaliers pulled off the 31-27 shocker.

The Cavaliers had won one game this season and were three-touchdown underdogs against a team that was undefeated, ranked in the top 10 after beating Miami and playing at home. But the Cavaliers also were coming off their bye week, had put together a sound game plan and made it work.

Since UNC edged Appalachian State 40-34 in double overtime in the second game of the season, the Heels’ defense had pieced together reasonably strong efforts, making timely stops and creating turnovers. But there was defensive slippage in the fourth quarter of the 41-31 win over Miami, the Hurricanes scoring twice, and more Saturday as the Wahoos rushed and passed for more than 200 yards.

“This was the App State game and we just didn’t win it,” UNC coach Mack Brown said.

Linebacker Cedric Gray had 18 tackles for UNC (6-1, 3-1 ACC) but the Cavaliers were effective out of the run/option package as quarterback Tony Muskett hurt the Heels running and throwing. Tailbacks Perris Jones and Mike Hollins combined to rush for 133 yards – Hollins scoring three TDs – and Muskett had 66 yards.

“We didn’t stop the run all game,” Brown said.

The Yellow Jackets (3-4, 2-2 ACC) had their hands full Saturday with Boston College, losing 38-23 as the Eagles ran and ran. BC finished with 308 yards rushing and 563 in total offense as running back Kye Robichaux ran for 165 yards and quarterback Thomas Castellanos 128.

The Heels will be facing another quarterback who is a dual threat in Georgia Tech’s Haynes King. The sophomore, a transfer from Texas A&M, passed for 204 yards and ran for 150 against BC.

The Heels have won just twice in the past 12 games in Atlanta. A year ago, they were 9-1, had clinched the Coastal Division and led the Yellow Jackets 17-0 at Kenan, only to have the Jackets bounce back and win.

Despite the deep disappointment of losing to Virginia, Brown said, “I’m really excited that we’re 6-1, one of the best records we’ve ever had at this school at this point. I won’t let this ruin what we’ve got going. We’ve got a really good team that didn’t play very well tonight, so we’ve got to get back to work and try to be 7-1 next week.

“When you lose you’ve got to own it, and that’s what we’ll do.”

UNC player to watch

Running back Omarion Hampton became a forgotten man in the second half against Virginia. The sophomore rushed for 112 yards on 19 carries – averaging almost six yards – in the game against a defense that was allowing 177 yards a game, 13th in the ACC.

Hampton ran 18 yards on the first play of UNC’s initial second-half possession, which ended with the Heels scoring, then rarely saw it again as Drake Maye threw 48 times in the game. Hampton had one catch for 19 yards.

Georgia Tech is allowing 227.7 rushing yards a game. That’s last in the ACC.

Key matchup: UNC D-line vs Tech O-line

Brown was not pleased with the work of his defensive front against Virginia. The Cavaliers were able to get to the edge running and Muskett was slippery in and out of the pocket.

The Heels did have a goal-line stand late in the game that ended with Virginia fumbling the ball out of the end zone for a touchback. But UNC could not muster a scoring drive on its last two possessions to pull out a last-gasp win – Maye’s final pass was intercepted.

Tech’s King is a big guy at 6-3 and 205 pounds who can move out of the pocket to throw and is quicker than he might appear. He has thrown for 17 TDs with nine picks, and had a 71-yard run against Boston College.

Betting odds

Some of the early lines from Vegas oddsmakers have the Tar Heels favored by 11.5 points.

How to watch

The UNC-Georgia Tech telecast will have an 8 p.m. start and be shown by the ACC Network. It can be viewed on Spectrum cable, on satellite providers DirectTV and Dish Network and streamed on DIRECTV Stream, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV.

North Carolina (6-1, 3-1 ACC) vs Georgia Tech (3-4, 2-2)

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta.

TV: ACC Network.

Series history: Georgia Tech has a 32-22-3 lead in a series that dates to 1915 and has won four of the past five games. The Yellow Jackets topped UNC 45-22 in 2021 in Atlanta when the Heels were ranked No. 21.