North Carolina vs Appalachian State first look: odds, key matchup, player to watch
Football uniforms don’t have three-digit numbers but North Carolina had one ready late Saturday night.
It had “100” on it and UNC coach Mack Brown was more than happy to slip into it in the locker room after the Tar Heels’ 31-17 win over South Carolina. It was Brown’s 100th victory in his two runs at UNC and had the 72-year-old coach, game ball in hand, dancing and carrying on among his players.
All in all, a good time was had by all. And especially by the much-maligned UNC defense, which had nine sacks and 16 tackles for losses, playing with a purpose, overwhelming the South Carolina offensive line and making things miserable for quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer called UNC’s defense “athletic and disruptive” and it was just that Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
So much for South Carolina. As big a win as it was for UNC – ESPN’s College GameDay in town, SEC opponent, national showcase, season opener – it’s on to the next one.
The next one being Appalachian State.
“We’ve got to go back and get to work,” Brown said.
If “100” was a memorable number Saturday in Charlotte, here are two numbers that no one associated with UNC’s football program has forgotten: 61 and 40. App State scored 61 points on the Tar Heels last season in Boone, with 40 incredibly scored in the fourth quarter.
The Heels won the game 63-61. But the Heels’ defense was never quite the same, stigmatized for the season by “61 and 40.”
App State opened its season Saturday, surging in the second half to a 45-24 win over Gardner-Webb in Boone. Starting quarterback Ryan Burger went out with a finger injury, but Joey Aguilar, a transfer, was 11-of-13 passing for 174 yards and four touchdowns in the junior’s first game at ASU.
The last time App State came to Chapel Hill, it left with a 34-31 win. That was in 2019, and Brown likely will remind his guys of that one, too, leading up to the Tar Heels’ home opener Saturday at Kenan Stadium.
UNC player to watch: British Brooks
The running back was in tears after Saturday’s game and why not? A knee injury took him out of the 2022 season and there were doubts if he’d play again for the Tar Heels.
But Brooks dispelled his doubts. He rehabbed and returned. He was the starter Saturday and had 103 yards on 15 carries. Brooks was back.
If the game in Charlotte was emotional for Brooks, and it was, it could be more of the same for the Heels’ home opener. He’ll be back in Kenan Stadium, wearing No. 24, ready to run.
Key matchup: D line vs O line
Rinse and repeat. A game key once again could be UNC’s defensive front and how App State plans to deal with it, aware that last year’s game will only fuel more anger and violence from the Heels’ defenders.
UNC’s Kaimon Rucker, named the Walter Camp national defensive player of the week, could not be blocked by South Carolina, the senior end beating double teams at times. Myles Murphy and Tomari Fox were a handful inside. Amari Gainer had two sacks. Linebackers Ced Gray and Power Echols found gaps to blitz.
A year ago, App State’s Aguilar was playing at Diablo Valley Community College in California when ASU quarterback Chase Brice threw six TD passes against UNC. If Burger is out and Aguilar the starter Saturday, he might have to answer for it, although the Apps do have three seniors on the offensive line to try and protect him.
“After App State last year, the narrative shifted that our defense wasn’t worth a crap,” UNC quarterback Drake Maye said Saturday. “They put a lot of people on notice with this game.”
Vegas betting odds
Some oddsmakers have made the Tar Heels an early 15.5-point favorite. The over/under: 61.5 points.
How to watch
The game is scheduled on the ACC Network, but the ongoing stalemate between Charter Communications, which owns Spectrum, and Disney could again make it harder to watch for those with the cable service.
Spectrum customers can switch their cable or satellite provider to such services as DISH and DirecTV. There are also streaming services such as YouTube and Hulu + Live TV.
North Carolina (1-0) vs Appalachian State (1-0)
When: Saturday, 5:15 p.m.
Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill.
TV: ACC Network.
Series history: UNC and App State have played twice, the Apps winning 34-31 in Chapel Hill in 2019 and the Heels winning 63-61 in 2022 in Boone.
This story was originally published September 4, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
