It Takes Two: North Carolina-Charlotte Game Prediction

Like last week, Jeremiah Artacho and I are back with our predictions for tonight’s matchup. In the opener, I picked TCU to beat North Carolina — correct on the result but not the final score — while Jeremiah backed the Tar Heels.

Grant: North Carolina 21-7

It would be hard for me to see UNC lose this game. Like the oddsmakers, I believe this will be a two-touchdown game, but I think it will be a close game for a little while due to my belief that both offense aren’t very good at the moment.

North Carolina couldn’t run the ball behind a porous offensive line that had an overall run blocking grade of 53.3 against TCU last week, which ranked in the bottom 15% nationally among FBS teams.

Also, North Carolina infamously did not complete a pass for more than half the game (34 game minutes) and over two hours in real-life time.

Charlotte did not put up much of a fight in its game against Appalachian State at Bank of America Stadium, falling 34-11 as the Mountaineers outgained the 49ers 586-218..

Jeremiah: North Carolina, 27-7

After UNC's season opener, I believe it will win, but by a score of 27-7, rather than serving a 34-point blowout of its own against the Charlotte 49ers. There are many things left to be settled, from the quarterback room to the type of offensive system, and more importantly, finding a team identity, as the Tar Heels currently lack one. 

North Carolina will need to find itself in this game on the road before it faces Richmond, UCF and its next big matchup against Clemson at home. The defense conducted by Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick will be eyed closely, after missing numerous tackles (19 to be exact) against the Horned Frogs. 

Head Coach Sonny Dykes ran the ball with ease at times, reeling in 75-yard and 28-yard rushing touchdowns — the kind of thing that can not happen for Bill Belichick's squad if it wants to find any life early in this 2025 season. 

If quarterback Max Johnson starts the game, then it will be a matchup of Johnson and former Tar Heel Conner Harrell going head-to-head. 

North Carolina should be able to get its first win inside Jerry Richardson Stadium; if not, then the headlines may be bigger than anything leading up to its first outing.