North Carolina (4-2, 2-1 ACC) at No. 16 Miami (4-1, 1-1), 3:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN2)
Line: Miami by 7.
Series Record: North Carolina 10-9.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The winner will still look good in the ACC’s Coastal race, and the loser will need some help to get to the conference title game. It’s that simple.
KEY MATCHUP
North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky vs. Miami DB Corn Elder. Trubisky has thrown for 400-plus yards three times this season, and the Tar Heels are 3-0 in those games. Elder is the leader of the Miami secondary, and he’ll be the one in charge of making sure Trubisky doesn’t put up huge numbers again Saturday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Carolina: RB Elijah Hood missed last week’s loss to Virginia Tech because of a concussion. He’s expected back this week, and ran for 132 yards against Miami last season.
Miami: QB Brad Kaaya was slowed this week by a sore shoulder, though is expected to play. Kaaya had 326 passing yards against the Tar Heels a year ago, and three touchdown throws in a win over North Carolina in 2014.
FACTS & FIGURES
North Carolina ran out to a 45-0 lead at home over Miami last season, on the way to a 59-21 rout. … Miami will pay tribute to the 2001 national championship team at halftime. … North Carolina has won its last seven true road games. … The Hurricanes have not allowed a first-quarter point this season. … North Carolina is facing a ranked team for the third consecutive week, the first time that’s happened since 2006. … Kaaya needs 106 yards to overtake Gino Torretta for No. 4 on Miami’s all-time passing list.
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AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org
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