Virginia (2-0, 0-0 ACC) faces #21 North Carolina (1-1, 0-1 ACC) tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. AFP editor Chris Graham will blog live with in-game commentary and analysis.
Broadcast info
The game will air live on ACC Network on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Information on providers of the ACC Network can be found on GetACCN.com. The game is also available to ACC Network subscribers via the ESPN App and ESPN.com. The contest can be heard on Virginia Sports Radio Networks around the commonwealth and live on VirginiaSports.com. A list of stations can be found here. Fans can follow along via live stats and the Virginia Mobile app and get in-game updates on the team’s official twitter account, @UVAFootball.
Betting line
- Vegas: UNC -8
- ESPN FPI: UNC 71.2 percent win probability
Forecast
This is Virginia’s game to win. If the schedule had this one even a week later, maybe Mack Brown and his staff have time to fix the issues with the O line that doomed them in the loss to the Hokies. UNC QB Sam Howell didn’t handle the pressure well, and was only average at best against the Virginia Tech secondary with a clean pocket. That doesn’t bode well against an improved UVA secondary. And the Virginia offense is rolling, giving Brennan Armstrong time, and the transfer portal gave him a new weapon in tight end Jelani Woods, whose presence opens things up outside for Dontayvion Wicks and Ra’Shaun Henry. Should be an electric atmosphere at night in Kenan, but Virginia is the better team. Final: Virginia 34, North Carolina 17.
AFP pregame coverage
What UVA Football fans need to know about North Carolina
Two weeks in, North Carolina owns a blowout win over Georgia State and an ugly loss at Virginia Tech. Meaning: we don’t really know anything about North Carolina.
O line key to high-octane UVA offense
One thing you don’t think about when your favorite team plays multiple quarterbacks: the offensive line, and cadence.
Mandy Alonso wants to make it five straight
Mack Brown, get the printer ready. We’ve got some material for your bulletin board, courtesy UVA defensive lineman Mandy Alonso.
Deep dive: How UVA might try to defend the Carolina passing game
Last year, in North Carolina’s 44-41 loss to UVA in Charlottesville, UNC quarterback Sam Howell was 23-of-28 for 443 yards and four TDs.
Mendenhall: ‘I like where we are’
Vegas has Virginia as a nine-point ‘dog on the road at North Carolina this week, which is insulting, but whatever.
Live Coverage
Pregame
I subscribed last night to Sling, and already, I’m unsubscribing, because I can’t watch that in two rooms. YouTubeTV took a while to get back working. I hate the ACC Network.
Opening UVA drive stalls
Brennan Armstrong hit Keytaon Thompson on a pair of passes to start the drive, gaining 35 yards, but he failed to connect on third-and-6 with Dontayvion Wicks, who had the ball in his hands and just couldn’t make the catch.
A false start on third-and-1 was key here. As was another one on fourth-and-6 with UVA ready to go for it.
UNC scores on a big play
Josh Downs took a quick slant 59 yards to the house. Four plays, 82 yards, just 1:14 off the clock. UNC 7, UVA 0, 10:45/1st.
Howell ran for 11 yards on the first snap, hit Antoine Green for 11 on the second.
Fumble
Keytaon Thompson fumbles on second-and-short at the UNC 12. Armstrong had connected on a 49-yarder to Wicks on a third-down to get UVA into the red zone.
Virginia has moved it both times, but mistakes are killing them.
Another big play for UNC
Sam Howell connects with Josh Downs on a 37-yard TD into the back of the end zone. The secondary looks like last year. UNC now up 14-0, 7:00/1st.
Nice response
A 10-play, 72-yard drive, capped by a Wayne Taulapapa TD. UNC 14, UVA 7, 2:27/1st. Armstrong is 10-of-12 for 164 yards.
WTF?
Bennett to Khafre Brown for 75 yards on the first play of the next drive. This is getting ridiculous. UNC 21, UVA 7, 2:16/1st.
Howell is 4-of-5 for 182 yards with three TDs.
UVA D holds … sorta, kinda
Carolina got into the red zone, but the UVA defense stiffened. Grayson Atkins good from 36. UNC leads 24-7, 10:47/2nd.
Howell now 5-of-7, 219 yards, three TDs.
Wicks for six!
Armstrong converted a third-down pass to Billy Kemp IV, then on the next play, connected with Wicks 40 yards. Four plays, 75 yards, 1:34. UNC 24, UVA 14, 9:13/2nd.
Armstrong is 13-of-16 for 250 yards and a TD.
Defensive adjustments
Stop going for the play-action. Safeties need more depth. Need something in the form of a pass rush.
INT!
Howell overshoots a man in the end zone, and Fentrell Cypress with the INT and long return. Potential momentum changer.
It’s a ballgame
Armstrong connects with Jelani Woods on a 1-yard TD pass. Seven plays, 49 yards, 2:44 on the drive. UNC 24, UVA 21, 2:54/2nd.
Armstrong is 16-of-20 for 301 yards and 2 TDs.
D holds again
Atkins missed from 54 yards. Interesting choice to go for the three. Gives UVA the ball at the 37.
Paydirt again
Armstrong to Kemp for a 21-yard TD pass. Somehow, some way, UVA leads 28-24, just before half.
Armstrong: 21-of-27, 364, three TDs.
Wicks: 6 catches on 7 targets, 161 yards, 1 TD.
Howell: 8-of-12, 249 yards, three TDs, one INT.
Total offense: UNC 395, UVA 366.
UNC scores to open the second half
Carolina strikes on a simple play-action on third-and-goal, Howell to Garrett Walston. Heels lead, 31-28, 12:50/3rd.
UNC has 215 yards on the ground. Exploiting the 3-3-5.
Virginia goes three-and-out
Kemp was called for a facemask on a 9-yard catch on first down. He had his facemask grabbed as well, no call.
Tough enough?
All that talk from the Virginia side about how Carolina wasn’t physical enough seems silly now. Carolina is out-physicaling UVA right now. Caleb Hood 5-yard TD run. UNC leads, 38-28, 7:26/3rd.
Answer with three
Justin Duenkel good from 34 yards, after missing two last week. UNC leads 38-31, 4:57/3rd. D needs to get a stop now, obvs.
Armstrong: 27-of-36, 426 yards.
UVA on the ground: 17 totes, 8 yards.
It’s hard to stay in the game if you can’t get stops
Another Carolina score, on a Ty Chandler 5-yard run. UNC is over 300 yards on the ground. Heels lead 45-31, 1:40/3rd.
My guess: you won’t see Mendenhall allowing his guys to talk trash on how any future opponents aren’t physical.
Armstong INT’d
Armstrong stared down the go route, and the safety made the easy pick. That’s going to be the ballgame.
Carolina has seized this one
The not-physical Tar Heels pile it on with a 3-yard TD pass from Howell to Kamari Morales. UNC 52-31, 12:13/4th.
Total offense second half: UNC 239, UVA 67.
UVA keeps it alive
Armstrong 9-yard TD pass to Kemp. Two-point conversion pass to Woods good. UVA trails 52-39, 7:11/4th.
Armstrong: 32-of-45, 483, 4 TDs, 1 INT.
Yet another Carolina TD
Chandler 7-yard run. The lack of physicality from the UVA front is astounding. UNC has run for 392 yards tonight.
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