Jonathan Lee    AccuScore Analyst
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This week’s Thursday match-up is underwhelming to say the least pitting the two worst conferences in football: the ACC and the Big East. Both conferences have performed so poorly through two weeks, it is almost incomprehensible. The Tar Heels and Scarlet Knights are both part of the problem.

Rutgers running back Kordell
Young, the replacement for
Ray Rice, is forecasted for
more than 80 yards rushing

North Carolina was a trendy sleeper pick in the ACC Coastal division. That was before it went out and struggled to put away FCS opponent McNeese State. The Tar Heels were outgained on offense, gave up nine more first downs and held possession for 10 fewer minutes than the Cowboys. Only Brandon Tate’s school-record 397 total yards and a second half rally saved them from all hopes for a breakout season ending prematurely in August. Rutgers saw what life was like after Ray Rice in Week One, and it wasn’t pretty. Fresno State traveled nearly 3,000 miles cross country, and put a beating on the Knights 24-7 making big play after big play on the ground and through the air.

The best news for both teams is that one of them has to win this game, and will help the plight of its own conference (slightly) in the race to prove which one is less inept at actual football.

AccuScore Projection

Rutgers is a three point favorite according to AccuScore simulations winning about 60 percent of the time. This is mostly due to the homefield advantage factor as the average margin is just three points meaning the teams are basically even.

The Knights seem to have the advantage on offense with two legitimate playmakers at wide receiver. Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood are both projected for 75 yards receiving, and they will be the main targets for quarterback Mike Teel. Kordell Young had a solid game numbers-wise against Fresno with 97 yards rushing and the only score. He is projected for over 80 yards, but less than four yards per carry against the Tar Heels.

UNC will need to get the ball to the aforementioned Tate and receive Hakeem Nicks. Tate had a 57 yard catch, a 54 yard run, and a 56 yard kick return, and an 82 yard punt return in the opener. He will be looking to make even more big plays Thursday. Even just one long play over 50 yards could tilt the momentum enough in this game to get a win on the road. Current simulations have him with fewer than 40 yards receiving, but that doesn’t fully measure his increased role in the offense and potential impact in the return game. Nicks is another nice weapon in the passing game, and is projected for over 65 yards on five catches. Quarterback Tyler Yates needs to take care of the ball as the Tar Heels are projected to have a slight advantage in the turnover battle.

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