There are few divisions in the country as unclear as the ACC Coastal. We may get some clarity Saturday night, when the North Carolina Tar Heels host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
How to watch Georgia Tech-North Carolina: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Can the Yellow Jackets bounce back after their first loss of the year?
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia Tech opened the season a surprising 5-0, following up easy non-conference victories over Wofford, Tulane and Georgia Southern and more impressive wins over conference foes Virginia Tech and Miami. With victories over two of the teams expected to be in competition for the divisional crown, the Yellow Jackets suddenly found themselves in the position of the favorites, and then immediately dropped a game to Duke.
North Carolina’s season has not gone swimmingly for head coach Larry Fedora, and the Tar Heels will have to finish strong down the stretch to even make a bowl -- a far cry from their preseason expectations, which saw them ranked in the AP Top 25. North Carolina opened the season with too-close wins over Liberty and San Diego State and has dropped all four games since, including a blowout loss at the hands of in-state rival East Carolina. On the other hand, Roy Williams predicted a victory!
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 7 p.m. ET.
TV: ESPNU.
Online streaming: WatchESPN.
Our sites on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked in either poll. The Yellow Jackets are 5-1, with a 2-1 record in ACC play. The Tar Heels are 2-4, with an 0-2 record against conference competition. Georgia Tech holds a 28-17-3 lead in the all-time series and has won five in a row against North Carolina.
Vegas: The line opened even. Georgia Tech is now a 2.5-point favorite, and the over/under is at 70 points.
Weather forecast: High of 74 and sunny.
Two things at stake
Georgia Tech lost its first conference game last time out, but is still one of the favorites in the division. A win here would get the Jackets back on track.
A North Carolina win would keep us on pace for a seven-way 4-4 ACC Coastal tie.
One big matchup
Georgia Tech rushing offense vs. North Carolina rushing defense. The Yellow Jackets' triple-option attack has averaged 5.7 yards per carry this season, compiling 17 touchdowns on the ground and 1,768 yards. Quarterback Justin Thomas (93 carries, 589 yards, three touchdowns) and running back Zach Laskey (105 carries, 521 yards, three touchdowns) lead the way, and quarterback Tim Byerly (five touchdowns) is good goal-line option. As expected, the Yellow Jackets are converting well on third downs.
The Tar Heels have given up 4.3 yards per carry and 16 rushing touchdowns, allowing at least 150 yards on the ground in every game but one (Clemson, surprisingly enough). Their biggest defensive lapses against the rush came against East Carolina (343 yards, five touchdowns) and Notre Dame (219 yards, four touchdowns), and the North Carolina front seven could be in for another long day Saturday.
Further reading
For full coverage of Georgia Tech, head to From the Rumble Seat. For more on North Carolina, check out Tar Heel Blog.
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