GAME NOTES: The 23rd-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the hottest teams in the ACC, and they will close out the regular season against rival NC state this weekend.

Butch Davis has done a tremendous job of resurrecting the North Carolina football program. His Tar Heels are 8-3 this season, and they have won their last four games. Last weekend, the team posted a 31-13 decision over Boston College on the road, an impressive showing to say the least.

As for NC State, it has lost its last two games and six of the last seven to fall to 4-7 overall and 1-6 in ACC play. The Wolfpack were completely outclassed last weekend in a 38-10 loss at Virginia Tech, and the last two defeats have come by a total of 48 points. Tom O'Brien is a well-respected coach, but his team has simply fallen apart.

North Carolina owns a commanding 63-29-6 series advantage over NC State, but the Wolfpack crushed the Heels last season by a 41-10 final.

While North Carolina finished with 31 points against Boston College last weekend, the Tar Heels didn't play particularly well offensively. They earned just 278 yards and two scores on that side of the ball, struggling to move the ball via both means of attack. UNC rushed for a mere 96 yards at a clip of 2.5 yards per carry, and the club pass for only 7.9 yards per completion. T.J. Yates was intercepted three times in the tilt, and while Ryan Houston did reach the end zone twice, his 18 carries for 45 yards won't scare NC State.

Fortunately, the North Carolina defense was stellar against Boston College, as six takeaways were registered in the contest. Cam Thomas returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown, and Kendric Burney had a 30-yard interception return for a score. Only 198 total yards were permitted to the Eagles, who were intercepted five times by the swarming Heels, including a three-interception effort by Deunta Williams.

"It felt really great," said Williams on his big performance on his 21st birthday. "God kind of blessed me with two gifts and I had to go out and get another one so it was a really good birthday present."

"I thought the story for us again as it often has been all season was the play of the defense," said coach Davis. "They played extraordinarily well. Their ability to go out and hold them inside the 30 or so yard line and hold them to two field goals is monumental."

UNC is scoring 24.1 ppg this season to go along with 296.0 total ypg, and that yardage figure is extremely low for an 8-3 team. The club has only gained 3.6 yards per rushing attempt and 9.5 yards per pass completion. A total of 23 offensive touchdowns have been registered, and 23 turnovers have been committed. Yates has completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 1,673 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he has tossed 13 interceptions. As for Houston, he has rushed for 572 yards and nine scores despite a sub-4.0 yards per carry average.

The fact that opponents are only scoring 15.9 ppg against UNC, which is allowing 261.6 total ypg, suggests that the strong showing against Boston College last week was not an anomaly. The Tar Heels have been dominant against the run, as foes are gaining just 94.4 ypg at a clip of 2.9 yards per attempt. The pass defense has been stellar as well, posting 19 interceptions while limiting opposing quarterbacks to 9.4 yards per completion with a mere six touchdowns. Robert Quinn is a man to watch for UNC, as he has recorded 17 TFLs, including 11 sacks. Williams has six interceptions to his credit, and Quan Sturdivant is tops with 71 total tackles, including 12 TFLs.

NC State's offensive numbers are solid this season, as the team is gaining 399.2 total ypg to go along with 30.5 ppg. Unfortunately, the ground attack has been rather weak, accounting for just 3.6 ypc, and that has placed added pressure on standout signal caller Russell Wilson. Sure, his completion percentage (58.1) could be higher, and his 11 interceptions have hurt, but Wilson has thrown for 2,768 yards and 27 touchdowns without the benefit of a top-notch supporting cast.

George Bryan is tops among receivers with 40 catches, while Jarvis Williams has 497 yards and nine touchdowns on 38 grabs. As for the NCSU ground attack, Toney Baker is tops with 711 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, the Wolfpack have been victimized for 31.5 ppg, with 43 touchdowns allowed to opposing offenses. It is hard to believe that NC State has surrendered 25 rushing touchdowns considering the fact that the club is holding foes to fewer than four yards per rushing attempt.

In the lopsided loss to Virginia Tech last time out, NC State finished with 14 rushing yards on 26 attempts, an abysmal effort for sure. Wilson was able to pass for 234 yards and one touchdown on 15 completions, but he was sacked five times in the ugly affair.

NC State enabled Virginia Tech to make good on 8-of-14 third down conversion attempts and keep the ball for well over 36 minutes. The Wolfpack allowed 24 first downs, 397 yards and five touchdowns to the Tech offense.

Expect North Carolina to avenge the lopsided loss to NC State that was suffered a year ago. The Tar Heels aren't flashy by any means, but they are extremely well coached and know how to win close games.