UNC football vs. South Carolina: Score prediction, scouting report for Duke’s Mayo Classic

UNC football and South Carolina get ESPN’s College GameDay treatment on Saturday in Charlotte.

The 21st-ranked Tar Heels will face the Gamecocks at 7:30 p.m. (ABC) in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. South Carolina has won four of the last five games in the series.

Here’s a look at some things to watch and a score prediction ahead of the Tar Heels’ first game of the 2023 college football season.

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Watch out for South Carolina’s special teams

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer’s coaching staff includes Pete Lembo, the reigning special teams coach of the year. The Gamecocks thrived in the third phase of the game last season with 11 blocked kicks/punts and five special teams TDs. All-SEC punter Kai Kroger was 4-for-4 passing with two touchdowns in 2022. UNC coach Mack Brown said the Gamecocks are “as good as anybody in the country” at trick plays. It’s fair to assume “Beamer Ball” will have an influence on Saturday’s game.

Can UNC’s revamped secondary slow down South Carolina’s Juice Wells?

UNC allowed an average of 271.3 passing yards per game, which ranked 116th nationally. Sophomore defensive back Marcus Allen and East Tennessee State transfer Alijah Huzzie will be among the players tasked with trying to slow down South Carolina receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells. Wells, who led the SEC with 555 yards after the catch, had 68 catches for 928 yards and six TDs in 2022. UNC’s defense will have its hands full trying to slow down one of the top receivers in the nation.

UNC vs. South Carolina score prediction

South Carolina 31, UNC 30: Because of the talent at the quarterback position and the struggles both defenses had in 2022, this is a coin-flip game. But recent history is on the side of the Gamecocks, who have won two of the three games in Charlotte.

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. South Carolina: Score prediction, scouting report