UNC football vs. Georgia Tech: Scouting report, prediction for Tar Heels-Yellow Jackets
North Carolina football will play a road game for just the second time this season on Saturday at Georgia Tech.
Coming off a stunning 31-27 loss to Virginia, the 17th-ranked Tar Heels (6-1, 3-1 ACC) head to Atlanta to face the Yellow Jackets (3-4, 2-2), who have won four of the last five games in the series. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on the ACC Network.
Georgia Tech lost 38-23 at Boston College last week, but the Jackets have beaten the Tar Heels in eight of the last 10 games in Atlanta. Here’s a look at some things to watch and a score prediction for UNC’s latest trip to Georgia Tech.
UNC football’s response after a loss
UNC is 3-1 following its first loss under Mack Brown in his second stint as head coach. In 2020, the Heels won five of seven games following their first loss. After a season-opening loss in 2021, UNC won two in a row before alternating wins and losses the rest of the year. The Heels followed their first defeat in 2022 with six wins in a row. If UNC is going to make a return trip to Charlotte for the ACC Championship, they can’t afford a letdown in back-to-back weeks
HOW TO WATCH: What channel is UNC football vs Georgia Tech? Time, TV schedule for Tar Heels
WHAT HAPPENED TO UNC?: What went wrong in UNC football's stunning loss to Virginia
CANCER AWARENESS: Why UNC football vs. Virginia isn’t just another game for the Tar Heels
Tar Heels can’t forget about running back Omarion Hampton
One of the question marks that came from UNC’s loss to Virginia was running back Omarion Hampton’s lack of carries in the second half. After rushing for 76 yards on 14 carries in the first half against the Cavaliers, Hampton had only five carries in the second half. He’s averaging 5.9 yards per carry with 770 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Hampton’s production has the ability to make things easier for quarterback Drake Maye and UNC’s passing offense.
PATH TO THE NFL?: Why Omarion Hampton could be UNC football’s next NFL running back
UNC’s defense has to limit Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is one of three FBS players with at least 1,800 passing yards, 350 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this season. King’s 17 TD passes are tied for the most ever by a GT quarterback through seven games. He had 150 rushing yards last week and UNC allowed Virginia to rack up 228 rushing yards. But King has nine interceptions, including seven in the last three weeks. That’s a good sign for a Carolina defense that has snagged a pick in six of seven games.
UNC vs. Georgia Tech score prediction
UNC 36, Georgia Tech 21: The Jackets have won three in a row and four of their last five matchups against ranked ACC opponents, but UNC has heard about this game since its loss in Chapel Hill last year.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football vs. Georgia Tech: Scouting report, prediction
