North Carolina vs Clemson football first look: key matchup, player to watch, odds
Some time after Saturday night became Sunday morning and the postgame wildness at North Carolina’s Kenan Stadium began to subside came the realization:
The Tar Heels made their Senior Night special, beating Duke 47-45 in double overtime.
But also, the Tar Heels must now face Clemson and N.C. State on their Senior Days, both on the road, with all that comes with that.
Both games should have charged atmospheres. Clemson, in a trying season that has made Dabo Swinney an unexpected radio personality/defender of his program, has beaten Notre Dame and Georgia Tech its last two games.
“We’re starting to play like I know we can play,” Swinney said after the 42-21 win over the Yellow Jackets. “We’ve grown as a team and we’re starting to play our best football. We’re a tougher team mentally and physically.”
In come the No. 22 Tar Heels (8-2, 4-2 ACC) for a game Saturday at Death Valley that will give the Tigers (6-4, 3-4) the opportunity to beat a ranked team to close out their home schedule in the regular season. Who knows, Clemson fans might storm the field – again – if the Tigers win.
Wait, what?
As is their custom after every home game, Clemson fans flooded the field at Memorial Stadium after the win over Notre Dame. But they did again Saturday after beating Georgia Tech, which was a 5-4 football team.
The last time the Heels and Tigers were on the football field together, Clemson pounded UNC in the 2022 ACC Championship game in Charlotte. The 38-6 beating is something that will be on the minds of the Heels. Redemption can provide strong motivation.
Few in Chapel Hill were thinking of that or the game next week as Saturday night became Sunday morning. The thrill of the Duke win at Kenan was too fresh, too exhilarating. But that will change, soon.
UNC player to watch: Drake Maye
If the Duke game was Maye’s last game in Kenan Stadium, and nearly everyone believes it was, he went out in what he called “storybook” fashion: 28-of-43 passing for 342 yards and a touchdown, plus two rushing scores including the game-decider in the second overtime.
On what might be his last play in Kenan, Maye was pressured on a two-point conversion in the second OT but stepped up and somehow got the ball to tight end John Copenhaver in the end zone. It would be the winning two points after UNC’s defense stopped Duke on a two-pointer.
But what now? While it would be understandable if Maye had a slight emotional letdown, the disappointment of that ACC title game last season should be enough to keep him well engaged this week and making the plays expected of him. He’s a competitor.
“I’m just glad to have him on my team and not going against him,” UNC defensive end Kaimon Rucker said Saturday.
Key matchup: Heels’ O versus Clemson D
UNC’s offensive game plan won’t vary: run the ball with Omarion Hampton, give Maye time to throw the ball. Keep it simple, keep it balanced, make it effective.
UNC is averaging an ACC-best 39.9 points. The Heels are getting an ACC-best 321.9 yards passing per game and almost 200 rushing yards a game – Hampton is the lleague’s eading rusher with 1,236 yards. Maye has thrown for a league-high 3,145 yards and has the ACC’s top QB efficiency rating at 157.4, ahead of Florida State’s Jordan Travis.
The flipside: Clemson leads the ACC in total defense at 271.8 yards a game, giving up 254 yards Saturday in the win over Georgia Tech. The Tigers are allowing 21.2 points a game. Something has to give.
Betting odds
Some of the early lines among the Vegas oddsmakers have Clemson a 5.5-point favorite.
North Carolina (8-2, 4-2 ACC) at Clemson (6-4, 3-4)
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.
TV: ABC or ESPN.
Series history: In a series that began in 1897, UNC has a 19-39-1 record and has lost the last five games against Clemson. UNC’s last win: Oct. 9, 2010 when the Heels won 21-16 in Chapel Hill. The Heels’ last win in Clemson: 2001.
