Let's take a look at the 2019 UNC Football team.
Best / Worse Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | Boston College | Pittsburgh | Florida State | Virginia Tech | NC State | Clemson | Syracuse | Wake Forest
North Carolina
After winning only 5 games the last two years, the Larry Fedora era came to an end at UNC. In walks in former UNC coaching great Mack Brown. It was met largely with skepticism at best, and derision at worst. All Brown has done since he arrived is infuse an energy not seen in Chapel Hill in years. Recruiting is going to extremely well, and there’s a feeling now that he can turn things around a lot faster than anyone previously thought.
Will Go 8-4 (4-4) if:
The defense can take a leap over last year. Last season the Heels were 106th in scoring defense and 105th in total defense. There is a new DC Jay Bateman, and if he can improve the defense into the 60ths in both categories, the schedule is not all that difficult. The game with Clemson is the only sure sure loss, and it’s not out of the question UNC could be 4-0 heading into that game.
They open the season with South Carolina whose last game was a 28 point loss to Virginia, then UNC hosts Miami, heads to Wake Forest, and then hosts Appalachian State. Freshman Sam Howell has been named the starting QB, and if he is as good as advertised UNC could have a surprisingly good year.
Will Go 3-9 (1-7) if:
They start the season 0-3. UNC has as as good a chance of starting 0-3 as 3-0. South Carolina has had a way of knocking off early season ACC opponents, Miami has a legit defense, and Wake Forest is a thorn in everyone’s side. The program is so used to losing it wouldn’t take much to sink them mentally. An 0-3 start would do that.
QB Sam Howell is getting thrown into the fire early, and if he struggles the offense is going to stall. The defense was simply dreadful last season, you can’t expect them to be all that good even in the best of circumstances.
