Ute offense to pose challenge

Game and Time: North Carolina at No. 11 Utah. Kickoff is at 10:07 p.m. EDT.

Site: Rice-Eccles Stadium.

TV/Radio: The game will be televised on KJZZ in Utah and could be picked up by ESPN Game Plan pay-per-view. The Tar Heel Sports Network will provide radio coverage; its flagship station is WCHL-AM, 1360.

2004 records: North Carolina is 3-3, 2-2 in the ACC. Utah is 5-0, 2-0 in the Mountain West.

Series: This is the first career meeting between the two schools.

Personnel Update: North Carolina - S Gerald Sensabaugh's status is uncertain (back). RB Ronnie McGill (sprained ankle) is expected to play. WR Adarius Bowman, LB Fred Sparkman and DT Isaiah Thomas have been suspended indefinitely. Utah - CB Ryan Smith (groin injury) is questionable.

The key matchup: Utah's unique spread offense against the North Carolina defense.

The Ute offense has dominated its opposition this season, averaging 464 yards per game, including a 582-yard performance against a Texas A&M team now ranked 23rd in the nation.

Much of Utah's offensive success can be attributed to the unique schemes instituted by head coach Urban Meyer. The schemes often use three to five wide receivers, giving the quarterback the option to run, hand off or throw.

And for a North Carolina defense accustomed to more traditional I-formation sets, the Utes' look could cause problems and miscommunications.

"It gives us a chance against a team when you look at their size and their speed and their athleticism," Meyer said. "I compare (UNC) a lot to Texas A&M. To line up with two backs and play against a team like that, that has better personnel than you do, doesn't make sense."

Running the complicated Ute attack is senior quarterback Alex Smith.

Smith, whose name has popped up on the Heisman Trophy radar, runs Utah's schemes to near perfection. Not only can he pass for 359 yards like he did against A&M, but he also can run. He totaled 84 yards on the ground in a win against Air Force on Sept. 25.

North Carolina coach John Bunting compared Smith to William & Mary senior quarterback Lang Campbell, who accumulated 322 passing yards at the Tar Heels' expense in the season opener.

"They're utilizing (Smith's) talent to the fullest," Bunting said. "He's certainly the (quarterback) at this point in the season I fear the most. The guy's really, really good."

Final analysis/prediction: Coming off of a bye week, Utah looks poised to make a statement win against a school from a BCS conference.

Unfortunately for Bunting, his team is the final BCS team on the Utes' docket, and Meyer said he believes that his team is healthy heading into the stretch run.

That doesn't bode well for a UNC team that suspended three significant contributors indefinitely for marijuana possession citations.

"Especially with those guys being top 10 in the country, it would be a tremendous win for us," said UNC quarterback Darian Durant.

But even with a complete roster, this matchup did not favor the Tar Heels.

Now, it likely has blowout potential.

The bottom line: Utah 42, North Carolina 17.

- Compiled by Jacob Karabell