The college football season has finally arrived after eight long months of offseason so fire up the grill, crack open an ice cold beer and enjoy the Belk College Kickoff battle of the Carolinas at Bank of America Stadium. The Tar Heels and Gamecocks both enter the contest with a lot to prove following disappointing showings during the 2014 campaign.
North Carolina boasted one of the worst defenses in the nation last season en route to a mediocre 6-7 overall record. However, Tar Heels fans hope the addition of Gene Chizik as defensive coordinator can at least make the defense respectable as the offense has the potential to be among the most potent teams in the country. North Carolina returns 10 starters from last year’s offense that topped 30 points in a game eight different times, including starting quarterback Marquise Williams.
The defense will look entirely different from a schematic standpoint with Chizik at the helm. The former Auburn head coach has scrapped the 4-2-5 scheme that has seen North Carolina get blown off the ball in recent years, in favor of a more traditional 4-3 look. Middle linebacker Jeff Schoettmer will be required to make big plays against the run and pass if the Heels hope to stop any opposing offense in 2015.
The Gamecocks had a down year as well a season ago, winning just seven games after a string of several double-digit win campaigns. Much like their neighbors up north, South Carolina collapsed under a dreadful defense that allowed at least 34 points on seven different occasions. The defensive question marks should turn this contest into an exciting, high-scoring affair with plenty of offense.
North Carolina returns experienced talent not only at quarterback, but also at every important skill position around Williams. T.J. Logan and sophomore Elijah Hood are crucial in the running game and have the potential to provide a deadly one-two punch in the backfield. If the Tar Heels can establish an effective running game the field should open up for Williams, as well as his weapons Quinshad Davis and Ryan Switzer on the outside.
South Carolina doesn’t return the same type of firepower on offense and head coach Steve Spurrier will need sophomore quarterback Connor Mitch to grow up quickly. Mitch has virtually no game experience on the collegiate gridiron, but Spurrier is known nationwide as somewhat of a quarterback guru who specializes in putting young signal callers in the best position to succeed. Mitch also will certainly benefit from the SEC’s leading returning wide receiver Pharoh Cooper who will be a matchup nightmare for a North Carolina defense trying to establish an identity. Cooper is a dynamic playmaker who reeled in 69 catches for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014.
This battle of the Carolinas is particularly intriguing due to all the unknown on both rosters entering the opening game of the season. Ultimately this game will come down to the level of improvement on the Tar Heels defense that ranked 119th in the nation last season allowing nearly 39 points per game. In the end, Cooper and the Gamecocks offense will be too much to handle as Chizik just hasn’t had enough time to completely fix the leaks for North Carolina.
PREDICTION: SOUTH CAROLINA – 34
NORTH CAROLINA – 30
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