ACC Championship Game Clemson Tigers vs North Carolina Tar Heels Start Time

They’ve failed to cover in three straight, driving down a price that otherwise would have been higher against North Carolina.

Fedora and North Carolina have agreed in principle to a new seven-year contract that runs through 2022, athletic director Bubba Cunningham announced Saturday. It would stand as the Tar Heels second victory over a ranked opponent, and they would own one of the most coveted conference titles in the country. “If we beat the No. 1 team in the nation, then I believe this team deserves to be in the College Football Playoff”.

The Tigers finally put everything together for their first undefeated season under Dabo Swinney.

Fedora ultimately inherited sanctions that included scholarship reductions and a one-year postseason ban, which sidelined the Tar Heels from playing in the ACC title game in his first season. “I just hope we’re the one there”. North Carolina probably need Alabama and Stanford to lose as well in order to get in, but it’s still possible for them.

Clemson comes into this game sitting at 12-0 on the season and #1 in the nation in every major poll.

Clemson’s greatest advantage on Saturday might not be at the quarterback position, where Tigers sophomore Deshaun Watson has emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Swinney said Watson is the “complete package, ” comparing him to former New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera. “… He’s a tough one to beat”.

“The main thing is you’d just better be sound and you have to be very, very disciplined and try to take the big plays away”, Swinney said. “I mean, they’re the No. 1 team in the country”.

A win for North Carolina will mean a lot for the program and the rest of their season.

“Yeah, I don’t know if it erases the cloud, but the sun is showing through the cloud”, Fedora said. I don’t think you ever see him get rattled…. “I’m biased, but I think defense is still the way to a championship”.

The key to this game is the defensive performance of North Carolina. The Tar Heels have forced 23 turnovers and 22 sacks throughout this season. Stewart leads the ACC in passes defended per game (1.77 per game, 13 PBUs, 4 INTs in 10 games) and cornerback Des Lawrence ranks third with 1.33 per game (14 PBUs, 2 INTs).

“They’re here to play a game, “Fedora said of his players”. The game airs live on ABC. It is a big matchup not only for the ACC but has big implications for the College Football Playoff. Not just Watson. Wayne Gallman has rushed for nine touchdowns this season. Punt returns are an area of emphasis for UNC and directed by Fedora personally, so the Tar Heels could help their chances by springing Switzer for a big one. It makes sense; the school has won 25 conference tournament titles, reached 18 final fours, won five national championships, and has produced players like some guy named Michael Jordan.