North Carolina (6-4, 3-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) is set to face Boston College (5-5, 2-4) on Saturday at 12 p.m. EST, airing on The CW. According to BetMGM, the line favors North Carolina by three and a half points. The history of their matchups reveals that UNC has the upper hand, leading the series 6-2.
What’s on the line for both teams? North Carolina managed to secure its bowl eligibility last week with a victory over Wake Forest. After a challenging midseason slump that included a four-game losing streak, the Tar Heels are now targeting their fourth consecutive win as the regular season winds down. For Boston College, achieving one more victory is crucial for bowl eligibility, aiming to qualify for a bowl game for the eighth time in the last nine years.
A significant matchup to watch will be between UNC’s running back Omarion Hampton and Boston College’s run defense. Hampton was a preseason Associated Press All-American and is ramping up his performance in the final stretches of the season. He currently ranks second in the Bowl Subdivision, averaging 142.2 rushing yards each game, having exceeded 100 yards in every game except one. His standout performances this season include 265 yards of total offense against Florida State, contributing five touchdowns, and a career-high 244 yards from 35 carries against Wake Forest. In contrast, Boston College ranks eighth in rushing defense in the ACC, allowing 130.4 yards per game.
Key players to keep an eye on include Boston College’s quarterback Grayson James, who joined the team from FIU. He had a solid performance last week, completing 18 of 32 passes for 237 yards and adding a 20-yard touchdown run during the loss to SMU, marking his first game as a starter after taking over for Thomas Castellanos. For UNC, defensive end Kaimon Rucker is another key player; after returning from a month-long injury absence, he has made a notable impact during UNC’s winning streak. Rucker recorded three out of the team’s ten sacks in the game against Virginia and has had a sack in both of the past two games, contributing to a defense that ranks fifth nationally with an average of 3.4 sacks per game.
In terms of facts and figures, it’s worth noting that North Carolina’s 6-2 series record includes victories from 2008 and 2009 that were later vacated due to NCAA violations. The last time UNC visited Boston College, they narrowly won 26-22 in a stadium empty due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. Boston College has struggled against North Carolina, losing five consecutive meetings and is yet to secure a victory against UNC since joining the ACC in 2005. Additionally, defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku ranks fourth in the nation and second in the ACC with 11 total sacks and has recorded 14 tackles for a loss, putting him in eighth place in FBS. Running back Kye Robichaux also stands out, having accumulated 278 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry in his last two outings.