North Carolina football vs Syracuse, first look: odds, player to watch, key matchup

North Carolina coach Mack Brown has said he likes to binge watch college football games on the weekend when he can, eyeing the opposition.

Naturally, Brown pays closer attention to the teams the Tar Heels will face in the season, meaning he likely watched a lot of Clemson-Syracuse on Saturday.

Syracuse comes to Chapel Hill this week to face the No. 14 Tar Heels, who went into their bye week 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC after opening conference play with a 41-24 road win at Pittsburgh.

The Orange (4-1, 0-1), playing at home Saturday, fell behind the Tigers 14-0 and never caught up, losing 31-14. The Syracuse defense put decent pressure on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, but the Tigers were 7-of-15 on third-down conversions as Klubnik was mobile enough to buy time on the move and find open receivers and passed for 263 yards and two scores.

The Syracuse offense again is built around quarterback Garrett Shrader, but with some wide receivers — including Oronde Gadsden, out for the season — injured and missing, the stress on the QB was too much against the Tigers. Clemson did a good job keeping Shrader’s running in check.

Shrader, who had 24 rushing yards on 15 carries, was sacked five times. He passed for a couple of touchdowns but also had an interception as Syracuse had three turnovers.

The Tigers also contained sophomore running back LeQuint Allen, limiting him to 56 yards on 14 carries. Allen and Shrader had combined for 12 rushing TDs before Saturday.

“That was a fantastic effort by their guys and obviously we saw a different football team than people have been seeing recently,” Syracuse coach Dino Babers said to the media after the game. “But those guys are extremely talented and they were highly motivated.”

UNC’s Brown said the bye week came at a good time for the Tar Heels.

“This will be a great week to reassess our first four games and find out exactly who we are and what we like and what we need to change,” he said after the Pitt win.

Because of an inflated ACC, UNC and Syracuse have played just twice in the past 20 years. The Tar Heels won 31-6 in the 2020 season opener at Kenan Stadium and the Orange took a 40-37 double-overtime win at Syracuse in 2018.

UNC player to watch: J.J. Jones

The junior wide receiver set career highs against Pitt with his six catches for 117 yards, averaging 19.5 yards a grab and giving Drake Maye another reliable target.

“J.J. has had to step up even more since we don’t have Tez Walker,” Brown said. “Drake’s a good combo with him.”

Jones has become dangerous on the deep post and Clemson tested Syracuse deep on Saturday and Klubnik hit Beaux Collins for a 47-yard TD. Jones had a 57-yard catch against Appalachian State and a 52-yard grab against Pitt.

Key matchup: Orange vs UNC passing game

Jones isn’t the only receiver Maye has to work with, as Nate McCollum ignited for 15 catches and 165 yards against Minnesota and the tight ends – John Copenhaver, Bryson Nesbit and Kamari Morales – are all capable receivers and options.

Syracuse, tied for the ACC lead in sacks with 16, needs to generate a good pass rush and get around Maye. Syracuse also is tied for the ACC lead in interceptions with six and leads in return average (31 yards).

Vegas betting odds

The guys in Las Vegas are making UNC a 7-point favorite over the Orange in the early lines.

North Carolina (4-0, 1-0 ACC) vs Syracuse (4-1, 0-1)

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill.

TV: ESPN.

Series history: The Heels and Orange have played six times, all since 1995, with each winning three games.