North Carolina Tar Heels 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – North Carolina Tar Heels 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 8-5

2016 ATS – 7-5-1

The Tar Heels had a better season than the record would indicate. They had a 10-pt lead on Georgia in the 2nd half (but lost – a 574289703 star MEGALOCKS loser), lost to Duke by a point and were within a 2-point conversion of tying Stanford late in the Sun Bowl. Yes, they did win a couple of close games, but overall, you have to be happy as a Tar Heels fan. 19 victories in the past two years.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

Coastal Division – #5

Atlantic Coast Conference – To be determined

OFFENSE

This is going to be a tough act to follow. #1 NFL DC Mitch Trubisky was a machine last season throwing for over 3,700 yards and only 6 (!) INT in 447 attempts. The running game and WR group provided great balance. This year ? Pretty much a total reload. Let’s examine. <grabs popcorn>

The starting QB job is up in the air, although early on, it does appear as though LSU transfer Brandon Harris will get the first crack. Harris was definitely “up and down” to put it mildly in Baton Rouge and the Tar Heels will face more than a few really good defenses this year. The RB corps is barren when it comes to experience. The Tar Heels also lose three of their top four receivers from the 2016 campaign. Good news ? The offensive line is experienced and large. A couple of grad transfers have been added to the mix.

DEFENSE

At some point. For the love of everything wonderful. The Tar Heels need to be able to stop the run. There appears to be hope on the horizon as the DL should be improved with two starters returning and some nice beef in the inside. The LB unit returns the entire starting trio from 2016 including a pair of 100-tackle performers (C Holcomb, A Smith). The secondary should also be in decent shape with a pair of returning starters. The retirement of DC Gene Chizik adds a bit of uncertainty into the mix.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Tar Heels will break in a new PK and that is always something we take note of when completing our summer preparation. Tom Sheldon is a fine punter. There are YUUUGE losses in the return game with the departure of Ryan Switzer and TJ Logan. Color us concerned, yo.

Potential ATS Trouble Spots

September 16 – at Old Dominion. This pops up in an ACC-sandwich (Louahvuhh, Duke) and gives Old Dominion a chance to say something about the 80 (EIGHTY) points UNC laid on them in 2013.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

QB Mitch Trubisky managed to throw 243 consecutive passes last season without an INT.

We CANNOT make this stuff up. North Carolina intercepted ONE pass during the entire 2016 season. Wut ?

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 3.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the TAR HEELS a 3.0 ATS Value Rating (Poor) this season.

Keep this in mind. We LOVE the state of North Carolina. As we go to press time, we are counting down the seconds until our annual summer vacation to NC. Please forgive us, Tar Heel Nation (not to mention the fact that we are often wrong).

There is just way too much uncertainty on offense. HC Fedora does a fine job but we feel that it will be a struggle when you look at some of the defenses they have to face. We believe the defense will be better than expected so all is not lost. It just does not seem fair to ask these guys to have a season that exceeds expectations considering all the new faces. Tread lightly.

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