Are North Carolina and East Carolina the two best teams in the state? Duke may have something to say about that (and NC State is undefeated!), but Saturday’s matchup between the Tar Heels and Pirates should pose some fun matchups.
North Carolina vs. East Carolina: Game time, TV schedule, live online streaming and more
Can the Pirates make it two victories over ACC teams in a row?
North Carolina is 2-0, with wins over FCS Liberty and San Diego State on its resume. The Tar Heels are coming off a bye week after a close win over the Aztecs. While there have been promising signs from the offense, the defense has been a concern, giving up 56 points in the first two games. Quarterback Marquise Williams is a top dual-threat option, leading the team in passing (424 yards, four touchdowns) and rushing (115 yards, two touchdowns). He has two strong targets in special teams ace Ryan Switzer (14 receptions, 105 yards) and Mack Hollins (four receptions, 150 yards).
East Carolina responded from a Week 2 loss to South Carolina with a road win over Virginia Tech (a team that had just defeated Ohio State). The Pirates shot up five places in our Underdogs Poll, moving all the way up to second (behind BYU). Even with the loss, they’re one of the top non-AQ contenders for a major bowl game, but will need a win here to stay that way.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Online streaming: WatchESPN
More from our team sites
The numbers
Rankings and records: North Carolina is ranked in the Coaches Poll (at No. 25), but not in the AP Poll. East Carolina is not ranked in either poll. The Tar Heels are 2-0 this season, while the Pirates are 2-1. North Carolina holds an 11-3-1 lead in the all-time series.
Vegas: North Carolina opened as a 2-point favorite. The line has since flipped, with East Carolina as the 3-point favorite now.
Weather forecast: 76 degrees and partly cloudy.
Two things at stake
This is a local rivalry game, even if the two are in separate conferences. East Carolina won last year, so the Tar Heels will be looking for revenge.
This is East Carolina’s last chance for another marquee win against a Power 5 opponent before conference play starts.
One big matchup
East Carolina passing offense vs. North Carolina passing defense. The Pirates like to throw the ball -- a lot -- and the Tar Heels will have a tough task trying to contain their weapons. Quarterback Shane Carden ranks in the top 10 nationwide in passing yardage, throwing for 1,031 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions in the first three games this season. Carden's top target is Justin Hardy, who's had two straight years of 1,000+ receiving yards and has caught 23 passes for 267 yards and two scores so far this year. Don't forget about fellow senior Cam Worthy, however -- he's caught just 11 passes, but leads the team with 302 receiving yards.
North Carolina will attempt to match up with that with a somewhat inexperienced secondary, starting three sophomores. Before the season, Bill Connelly warned the Tar Heels may be prone to giving up big plays after the loss of safety Tre Boston. The Pirates are by far the best offense they’ve faced this season, and North Carolina gave up a pair of 50+ yard plays to San Diego State.
Further reading
For more on North Carolina, head to Tar Heel Blog. For coverage of East Carolina and the rest of the AAC, check out Underdog Dynasty.
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