Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
UM AT NORTH CAROLINA FAST FACTS, ODDS, KEYS, PREDICTIONS
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C. Latest line: North Carolina’s favored by 7 ½ points TV: ACC Network Radio: 560-AM, 990-AM (Spanish) Weather: 84 degrees, 58% chance of precipitation Online: sun-sentinel.com/um; @khobi_price on Twitter Stadium safety protocols: Kenan Memorial Stadium will operate at full capacity. Masks are not required for outdoor events, but must be worn in indoor spaces, including restrooms and elevators. Food and merchandise transactions will be cashless. Quick slant: After a disappointing start to the season, the Hurricanes are looking to get back on track and stay in contention for the ACC Coastal Division. UNC downed UM, 62-26, last year at Hard Rock Stadium in a loss that ended Miami’s chances of making an appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Miami is looking to avoid its first 2-4 start since 1997, when it was on NCAA probation and dealing with the loss of several scholarships. About Miami (2-3, 0-1 ACC): The Hurricanes are coming off a bye week following their heartbreaking, 30-28, loss to Virginia in their ACC opener. Tyler Van Dyke will be UM’s starting quarterback for the third consecutive game after coach Manny Diaz revealed that D’Eriq King will be out for the season with a shoulder injury. Defensively, multiple starters are expected to make their returns, including defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte, striker Amari Carter and weakside linebacker Keontra Smith. About North Carolina (3-3, 2-3 ACC): The Tar Heels are coming off a surprising 35-25 home loss to Florida State. Like Miami, UNC came into the season a highly-ranked team, but have dropped out of the Top 25 and already have as many losses this season as it did during the 2020 regular season. The Tar Heels’ Sam Howell is one of the better quarterbacks in the nation, with the Waynesville, N.C. native throwing for 1,697 yards and 16 touchdowns on a 60% completion percentage through six games. He’s also rushed for 396 yards and three touchdowns.
Three things to watch 1. Will Van Dyke be settled
from the start? The secondyear freshman struggled to find his rhythm in the first half against the Cavaliers before completing 11 of 18 pass attempts for 140 yards and scoring two second-half touchdowns. FBS quarterbacks have played some of their best games against North Carolina this season. 2. Can ’Canes slow down top target? The Tar Heels don’t have the same elite offensive threats as they did last year, but one player Miami will need to make sure it contains is Josh Downs. The sophomore wide receiver has 741 receiving yards and 49 receptions — both of which rank No. 3 in the nation — and seven touchdowns. 3. Will the Hurricanes
establish the run early? UM’s expected to start the same offensive line for the third consecutive game, which should help the Hurricanes block better after struggling up front to start the season. — Khobi Price
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist: North Carolina 31, Miami 28
Until Miami beats someone in its weight class this season, it’s hard to predict the Hurricanes winning on
the road against even an uncertain team like North Carolina. The loss of D’Eriq King is a tough one for Miami considering he did so much. This remains the lifeline for Manny Diaz,
a must-win game. Khobi Price, Hurricanes Writer: North Carolina 35, Miami 27
The Hurricanes’ recent history when playing a game after a bye week suggests Saturday’s matchup won’t go well for Miami. UM is 1-4 in games coming off a bye under coach Manny Diaz. The Hurricanes will be extra motivated to beat the Tar Heels after last year’s embarrassing 62-26 home loss to UNC that ended their chances of making an appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game. But North Carolina will likely be too much for Miami to overcome in its first true road game of the season. The two UNC players largely responsible for taking down Miami last year — running backs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams — are now in the NFL. North Carolina still has one of the better quarterbacks in the ACC in Sam Howell, who has thrown for 1,697 yards and 16 touchdowns on a 60 percent completion percentage through six games. Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor: North Carolina 31, Miami 23 Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will start his third straight game in place of the injured D’Eriq King, who is out for the season, against North Carolina. Both teams have struggled since being preseason consensus top picks in the ACC’s Coastal Division. After entering the season ranked No. 14, UM has dropped out of the Top 25 with its lone wins coming against Appalachian State, a Group of Five program, and Central Connecticut
State, an FCS team. The Tar Heels, who began the season in the Top 10, are coming off a surprising 35-25 home loss to Florida State. North Carolina already has as many losses as it had in the 2020 regular season, but should have no problem against a UM team in disarray.