Florida State dropped 63 points on them, and Georgia Tech drove the ball more than 60 yards for four of its six touchdowns two weeks ago.
"I will be shocked if this game is a
10-9 ballgame," UNC coach Carl Torbush said. "They have the ability to make big plays, and I think we have the ability to make some big plays.
"It's going to be an interesting game because both defenses are going to have to step up to meet the challenge."
The challenge N.C. State presents is formidable. The Wolfpack relies heavily on 18-year-old freshman quarterback Philip Rivers, who leads the country in passing at 340.2 yards per game.
Rivers gets help from The K-Rob and Ray-Rob Show, starring Koren and Ray Robinson (no relation).
Koren Robinson, the nation's No. 2 receiver at 120.2 yards per game, has recorded 100 yards receiving in a school-record six contests. The last time he failed to clear the century mark was against UNC last year.
Rivers and Robinson hooked up for three scores, including the game-winner, against Georgia Tech and combined for a 63-yard bomb against Clemson last week.
"(Rivers) gets me the ball, and you can't dislike a quarterback who gets you the ball," Robinson said. "He knows where I'm going to be on certain plays, and he knows what I'm going to do in certain situations. We've got a good chemistry."
The Tar Heels cannot afford to play Robinson man-to-man - he is simply too big and too fast. Plus, Eric Leak, N.C. State's second receiver, drops as many passes as he catches. The smart move for the Tar Heels is to double-team Robinson with a safety and make Leak and No. 3 wideout Bryan Peterson beat them.
The N.C. State ground game is much less impressive than its passing attack, but that's no fault of Ray Robinson. Robinson gets fewer carries in Norm Chow's offense than he got in the past, but he is still a dangerous player.
Robinson averages 61.4 yards per game on the ground - or 81.7 percent of his team's total rushing yards.
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"They throw it a great deal, but they can run it," Torbush said. "I think if you overlook the running game, you're getting ready to get in trouble. Robinson can turn a short gain into a big gain."
UNC, meanwhile, has been shaky against the run recently. The Tar Heels led the nation in rushing defense after two games (8.5 ypg) but have allowed 139.3 ypg in their last three games.
Final analysis/prediction: In light of all the attention Mike O'Cain has been getting, UNC's coaches have said all week that this game is about the players, not the coaches.
But the coaches could play a key role in the outcome. The Tar Heels take pride in being able to play bump-and-run coverage all over the field, but they can't succeed with that strategy in large doses against N.C. State. Torbush and defensive coordinator Ken Browning need to realize this and give safety help to cornerbacks Errol Hood and Michael Waddell.
The Wolfpack is not patient enough to take lots of time and run the ball down the field with Ray Robinson, so minimizing big plays is important for the Tar Heels.
"State's a great team - they're playing with a lot of confidence right now," Hood said. "The way to counteract that is to come out and play. We realize they are going to make big plays, but you have to get up the next play and play the next play. You can't get down on yourself, or it's over."
Torbush said the Tar Heels would mix up their defenses against Rivers to try to keep him off balance, but that's easier said than done because Rivers is so poised. In the end, the Tar Heels will probably resort to blitzing their linebackers and relying on their defensive backs to make plays on balls in the air.
That strategy has not worked this season, as evidenced by UNC's two interceptions (second worst in the ACC).
It won't work Saturday either.
N.C. State 35, UNC 31
- Compiled by T. Nolan Hayes
