Scouting Reports
Wake Forest (3-3) at North Carolina (4-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill
TV/Radio: Fox Sports Carolinas, 106.1-WTKK
Wake Forest’s strength: If the Demon Deacons were as good offensively as they have been defensively they might be among the most formidable teams in the country. Alas, though, the defense has been much, much better.
Wake ranks 15th nationally in total defense (allowing 296 yards per game), 16th nationally in red zone defense and 20th in scoring defense. It defeated Boston College last weekend in a 3-0 victory that might have set offenses back two decades.
Key theme: Can UNC avoid a letdown and carry over the momentum it created in a 38-31 victory at Georgia Tech on Oct. 3? That’s the foremost question surrounding the Tar Heels, who had the weekend off last weekend.
Before that, they came back from a 21-point deficit to beat Georgia Tech in what was arguably the most important victory of Larry Fedora’s coaching tenure. But what UNC built amid that victory will all be wasted if it doesn’t follow up with a win against Wake Forest.
Losing games against lesser opponents has been an issue for the Tar Heels under Fedora. There can’t be a letdown on Saturday night.
Andrew Carter
Tulsa (3-2) at East Carolina (3-3)
Kickoff: Noon, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville
TV/Radio: ESPNews, 570-WFNL
Tulsa’s strength: Under first-year coach Philip Montgomery, a former Baylor assistant, the Golden Hurricane rank No. 7 in the county in passing offense and total offense. Senior quarterback Dane Evans averages 367.8 passing yards per game and Tulsa has two receivers, Keyarris Garrett and Keevan Lucas, who average more than 100 yards per game.
Key theme: Teams that try to play ECU’s up-tempo, free-wheeling game with them, usually lose. Tulsa has been no exception to that rule, losing five straight to the Pirates. Quarterback James Summers has been a difference-maker for the Pirates since getting a larger role in a 35-28 win over Virginia Tech on Sept. 26. Tulsa’s defense, which gave up 52 points to Oklahoma (and former ECU offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley), will need to come up with some answers for Summers.
Joe Giglio
Other area games
N.C. Central (2-3) at Savannah State (1-4), 2 p.m., NCCUEaglePride.com, Wright Stadium, Savannah, Ga.: The Eagles (1-1 MEAC) first two conference games have been decided by a total of five points. They are coming off of a 27-24 road win at Florida A&M. The Tigers are 1-2 in MEAC play, also with a win over FAMU.
Campbell (3-3) at Stetson (1-4), 1 p.m., ESPN3/GoCamels.com, Martin Stadium, DeLand, Fla.: The Fighting Camels try to get back on track in the Pioneer League after dropping a 13-10 home decision to Marist. The Hatters have been struggling. They have lost four straight and have given up an average of 41.5 points per game.
Winston-Salem State (2-4) at Saint Augustine’s (0-6), 1 p.m., 750-WAUG, George Williams Athletic Complex, Raleigh: The Falcons, 0-3 in CIAA, have had problems on offense, scoring only seven points in three conference games.
Livingtone (2-2) at Shaw (0-6), 1 p.m., ShawBears.com, Durham County Stadium, Durham: Freshman quarterback Terrence Shambry gave the Shaw offense some life with four passing touchdowns in last week’s 36-29 loss to Fayetteville State.
This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 3:51 PM with the headline "Scouting Reports."