North Carolina Tar Heels projected to win how many football games according to USA Today?

The UNC football team may not have Drake Maye, Devontez Walker or Cedric Gray anymore, but it has an extremely talented, eager group led by sack machine Kaimon Rucker and All-Pro running back Omarion Hampton.

North Carolina also has a considerably easier football schedule this coming fall. After facing Minnesota on the road Thursday, Aug. 29, the Tar Heels return home to Kenan Stadium and face Charlotte, NC Central and James Madison in consecutive weeks.

UNC ends September at archrival Duke , then plays Pitt and Georgia Tech before its first bye week. North Carolina has a winnable game at Virginia , then ends its regular season with a tough stretch that includes Florida State, Boston College, and NC State.

Wake Forest is in the season-ending slate, but the Demon Deacons are coming off their worst year since 2015.

With all this being said, USA Today predicts the Tar Heels finish with an 8-4 (5-3) record. Check out what Paul Myerberg had to say about UNC’s chances:

“Miami and North Carolina have the talent to surge past our eight-win projections, though the Hurricanes could just as easily disappoint, as we’ve seen.”

Speaking of Miami, this year will be the first time – since 2003 – the Tar Heels don’t face Miami.

Can UNC exceed expectations and possibly compete for an ACC Championship?

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