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Quick Lane Bowl: Will North Carolina's or Rutgers' defense step up?

Quick Lane Bowl
Rutgers (7-5) vs. North Carolina (6-6)
Detroit, Mich.
Dec. 26, 2014

Rutgers and North Carolina each allow more than 30 points per game, so the Quick Lane Bowl has the potential to be a high-scoring affair.

Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo (4) catches a touchdown pass against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo (4) catches a touchdown pass against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The Scarlet Knights (7-5), in their first season in the Big Ten, overcame a defense that gave up 30.9 points per game and managed to win seven games, including three in conference play.

Despite its defensive struggles, Rutgers showed some flashes of big play ability over the course of the year. Senior quarterback Gary Nova threw for 2,667 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Junior wideout Leontee Carroo, Nova’s top target, hauled in 53 receptions for 1,043 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Rutgers’ receiving corp.

After running back Paul James went down with a knee injury early in the year, Rutgers went with a running back by committee approach the rest of the season. In addition to James, four additional backs tallied at least 50 carries and 200 yards with freshmen Robert Martin and Josh Hicks emerging at the position down the stretch.

The Scarlet Knights should have plenty of opportunities to exploit a North Carolina defense that allowed 495.7 yards per game on the season – including 232.2 rushing yards per game – and gave up more than 40 points five different times (38.9 per game).

Conversely, the Rutgers’ defense will have its hands full with a UNC (6-6) offense that averaged 34.3 points and 425.4 yards per game. Junior Marquise Williams is a classic dual-threat quarterback that can win you a game with his legs or his arm. Williams threw for 2,870 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 62.7 percent of his passes. Additionally, Williams led the Tar Heels with 737 yards and 12 scores on the ground this season.

Williams has a variety of receivers to spread the ball around to. Speedy slot-man Ryan Switzer led the team with 55 catches for 703 yards. Three other receivers – Mack Hollins (34 catches, 611 yards, 8 TDs), Quinshad Davis (38 catches, 440 yards, 6 TDs), and Bug Howard (37 catches, 423 yards, 2 TDs), proved to be reliable targets for Williams as well.

Though its 35-7 loss to NC State in the regular season finale was a disappointment, the Tar Heels won four of their last six games to clinch bowl eligibility. A win over Rutgers would give the Heels bowl wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

For Rutgers, a win would be its first bowl win since the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl.

ODDS

North Carolina (-3)

FUN FACT

Rutgers lost 20 turnovers on the season – 14 of which came in the team’s five losses.

PREDICTIONS

Graham: Can Gary Nova go out on a high note against North Carolina's terrible defense and become the beloved Rutgers QB he's always wanted to be? Well, that would be a great story, but I don't see it going down that way. North Carolina 42, Rutgers 31.

Nick: Gary Nova, this is your time to shine. North Carolina's defense has been atrocious this season, and Rutgers' quarterback has had a proclivity for picks in bunches. This shouldn't be one of those times. However, UNC should be able to put up enough points to win. North Carolina 36, Rutgers 30.

Sam: Both of these teams can score in bunches, but if it’s close down the stretch I trust Marquise Williams to make the big play more than Gary Nova. The Heels take a close one. North Carolina 37, Rutgers 33.

For more Rutgers news, visit ScarletNation.com.

For more North Carolina news, visit TarHeelIllustrated.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!