The North Carolina football team begins its 2018 season on Saturday against California. Sports editor Chris Hilburn-Trenkle and assistant sports editors Holt McKeithan and Jack Frederick give their predictions ahead of the opener.
Chris: Last season’s opener against California set the tone for the North Carolina football team’s season. The Tar Heels lost, 35-30, one of six games the team lost by 12 points or less. Heading into the 2018 opener, the attitude surrounding the team is much more upbeat and focused.
I expect quarterback Nathan Elliott to find star wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams early and often. I see Ratliff-Williams gaining over 100 yards through the air and server as a threat in the return game. In addition to Ratliff-Williams, redshirt senior Thomas Jackson returns to the starting lineup. He, along with sophomore Dazz Newsome, should give Elliott some check-down options.
The duo of Antonio Williams and Jordon Brown at running back should give the Golden Bears headaches, with Williams receiving the bulk of goal line touches.
However, the UNC defense could struggle stopping California quarterback Ross Bowers, who threw four touchdowns and passed for 363 yards against the Tar Heels last season. Running back Patrick Laird is back as a redshirt senior and faces a North Carolina run defense that was porous last season. He should rack up over 100 yards on the ground.
With the offensive threats possessed by the Golden Bears, I think UNC will need to score 30 points to win this game. It should be a close affair throughout, but I expect the Tar Heels to pull in the victory.
Prediction: UNC 31, Cal 27
Holt: Last year, the California Golden Bears traveled 2,800 miles across the country and stole a road win, 35-30, to open the season against North Carolina. This year, I expect the Tar Heels to return the favor.
North Carolina enters the matchup with certainty at quarterback, a dynamic downfield threat in Anthony Ratliff-Williams and depth in the backfield. A young offensive line may struggle, but threats at running back and receiver should be effective enough to offset those struggles.