North Carolina vs Georgia – Preview and Prediction
GEORGIA 3.5 NORTH CAROLINA (57.5)
Implied Projected Score: Georgia 30.5 North Carolina 27
MEGALOCKS LINE – Georgia 1
The Game
This should be a great ACC vs SEC showdown in Atlanta as the Tar Heels take on the Georgia Bulldogs. Can North Carolina stop the Georgia running game ? Can Georgia deal with likely the best offense they will see all year ? Get your popcorn.
The Match-Up
Georgia offense vs North Carolina defense
Last time we saw the UNC defense in action they were getting steamrolled for record bowl-record rushing yardage by Baylor. Georgia is starting Greyson Lambert at QB but highly-touted freshman Jacob Eason will likely get some snaps as well. We have all heard that star RB Nick Chubb is nursing an injury but you have to assume he is good to go. Last season’s leading rusher Sony Michel is a question mark. The offensive line looks pretty good. It is fair to assume that Georgia will be able to move the ball on the ground. UNC only gave up 24.5 points per game last season but allowed 200+ yards rushing per game in 2014 and 2015.
The North Carolina defense is in its second year under DC Gene Chizik. The Tar Heels were a lot better on defense and should be decent again this season. The secondary looks to be the strength of the team, and given the lack of proven talent in the Georgia WR corps, they should be able to aggressively play the run. Georgia does not have a running threat at QB and that will help the defense.
North Carolina offense vs Georgia defense
This should be fun. At the end of the day (we love saying that – what does it even mean ?), it is hard to imagine a scenario where UNC does not score some points. Mitch Trubisky should be fine at QB. He had 6 TD passes and 3 more TD rushing in limited action last season. What we really like is the excellent and experienced offensive line. That should give star RB Elijah Hood more than a puncher’s chance of helping the running game provide some balance to their high-tempo attack. They have dangerous weapons in the passing game. When they get in FG range they should get at least 3 points every time. PK Nick Weiler was 20/23 last season. Georgia has a lot of talent on defense but the front 7 is inexperienced and they only managed 21 sacks last season.
Tasty Tidbits
Baylor just scored again on North Carolina…..Georgia has a new DC and defensive mastermind in Kirby Smart but you do not see too many offenses like this in the ACC….The fast track in the Georgia Dome probably cannot hurt UNC….The X-Factors (is this term overused or what ? welcome to MEGALOCKS, yo) may be UNC JUGGERNAUT Ryan Switzer and his Georgia counterpart Isaiah McKenzie who are two of the best in college football at returning punts…..Georgia starting over in the kicking game with a new PK and P.
SUMMARY
We like getting the hook in this one. UNC will be a handful and should be able to keep it within 3.5 points if not win the game outright. As any ESPN analyst will tell you….”You need to make plays in space. You need your playmakers to make football plays on the football field in football situations.” North Carolina has more of those on offense and the Georgia offense does not particularly scare us, although maybe it should. Chubb could have a fine game while UNC still gets the win or the cover.
Conclusion
Official play: UNC +3.5 -105