UNC’s trip to Clemson comes with a number that jumps off the page: three wins in Death Valley over the last 46 years.
That’s the backdrop for Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels, who take a 2-0 record into Saturday’s Noon ET showdown with Dabo Swinney’s Tigers at Memorial Stadium on ESPN. North Carolina is trying to stop a seven-game losing streak in the series and end a drought in Clemson that stretches back to Julius Peppers’ win in 2001.
The Tar Heels haven’t beaten Clemson since 2010, and last season the Tigers rolled to a 38-10 win in Chapel Hill.
The betting market has Clemson favored by 3 points, with the over/under set at 43 ½. On the moneyline, UNC is +138 and Clemson is -165, according to BetMGM odds as of Thursday, Sept. 17.
The predictions split the difference between belief in North Carolina’s early form and skepticism about Clemson’s current state.
Rodd Baxley sees the Tar Heels pulling it out, 22-19. He points to Clemson’s struggles, the fact that the Tigers are starting a true freshman quarterback, and what he describes as a more defined identity for UNC on the field. His read is that the streak ends now, with a veteran quarterback and a strong defensive showing carrying the Tar Heels into ACC play with a win.
Anna Snyder is on the same side, taking UNC 21-17. She says the Tar Heels’ defense will do enough to slow Clemson’s offense and bring home a road win, noting that UNC has not won in Death Valley in 25 years and suggesting this could be the season that changes.
Nick Coppola sees a different script. He has Clemson winning 16-13 in what he expects to be a defensive grind.
He points to both teams leaning heavily on the run and struggling to create explosive plays through the air, which should keep the clock moving and the scoring low. In his view, Clemson’s defense will do enough, Nolan Hauser will get chances to contribute, and the Tigers’ offense will be just productive enough to survive the criticism and edge out a victory.
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Belichick Turns UNCs Clemson Collapse Into A Bigger Tar Heels Concern
Bill Belichick left no doubt after North Carolinas loss to Clemson that the final minutes were about more than one or two isolated mistakes. He pointed to missed chances on both sides of the ball, said Clemson made the key plays when it mattered, and framed the defeat as the kind of game his team has to learn from rather than just lament. For a Tar Heels program trying to build consistency, that kind of postgame message carries weight because it puts the focus squarely on execution, discipline and the small margins that decided the result.
Belichick also dug into the specifics, including the critical fourth-and-one pass attempt and the penalties that helped shape the games closing stretch. Those moments turned a tight finish into a broader concern for UNC, since the issues he identified were not tied to one unit alone. The challenge now is whether the Tar Heels can clean up those details quickly enough to show the collapse was a one-game lesson instead of a larger pattern. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Had Clemson Reeling Before A Delay Changed Everything
North Carolina had built a real foothold against Clemson, getting touchdowns on its first two drives and carrying a halftime lead into a game that felt very much within reach. The Tar Heels also had to navigate a patchwork roster, with some players unavailable because of suspensions and injuries, while the night carried an added emotional note with a tribute to a former player. It was the kind of ACC matchup that can turn fast, and for a while, UNC was the side forcing Clemson to chase.
Then Clemson began to chip away in the second half, and the game tightened to 17-15 in the fourth quarter before lightning stopped play. For North Carolina, the pause arrived at a tricky moment, with the momentum of the comeback and the rhythm of the night both suddenly up in the air. What happens next matters because the Tar Heels had already shown they could take control early, but the delay left the biggest question of all hanging over whether they could finish what they started. [Read more 🡒]
Belichicks First UNC Sideline Moment Said Plenty About This Experiment
Bill Belichicks first big sideline moment at North Carolina looked exactly like the kind of experiment Tar Heels fans were told to expect. During the game against Clemson, with UNC up early, Belichick was asked about his teams penalties and answered with a brief two-word response, offering little beyond the bare minimum while the game kept moving around him.
The exchange fit the larger picture of his arrival in Chapel Hill. Belichick stayed reserved, didnt expand on the flags or the broader game plan, and gave the sort of concise answer that has long defined his public persona. For a program trying to see what this partnership really looks like in real time, even a short sideline chat said plenty. [Read more 🡒]