Week 7: Notre Dame at North Carolina

Based on tradition, it’s no surprise that only one of these teams finds itself in the Top 25 this week. The surprise is that the ranked team is North Carolina, not Notre Dame. Regardless, both teams are examples of maturing squads on the rise.

The Tar Heels, off to their best start since 1997, have equaled their win total from last season. The Fighting Irish, meanwhile, already have surpassed the win total they posted during a disastrous 2007.

The similarities between the teams don’t end there. Both teams have the same record, and both enter this contest on two-game winning streaks. Both teams pass the ball more effectively than they run on offense, both allow 19 points per game on defense, and both are in the nation’s top 20 in turnover margin. The 27-yard edge Notre Dame has in total offense (353.2 yards per game to UNC’s 326.2 yards per game) is offset by UNC’s 31-yard advantage in total defense (345.8 ypg to Notre Dame’s 376.8 ypg).

The Tar Heels, ranked for the first time since 2001 after their 38-12 win over Connecticut last week, have one distinctive advantage: their home field. UNC is 6-3 at home under Butch Davis, and Notre Dame has played just one road game this season: a 23-7 loss at Michigan State on Sept. 20.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw two interceptions in that defeat, but he bounced back by tossing three touchdown passes and no interceptions two weeks in a row in wins over Purdue and Stanford. Notre Dame’s streak of turnover-free football — it’s currently at 168 offensive snaps — will be tested by a UNC defense that leads the nation in interceptions (12). Safeties Trimane Goddard (NCAA-best four interceptions) and Deunta Williams have a nose for the ball, so Clausen must be precise with his reads and accurate with his throws.

While the Fighting Irish have Clausen, the Tar Heels continue to adjust to life without their starting quarterback. T.J. Yates remains sidelined with a fractured bone in his ankle, leaving junior Cameron Sexton at the controls. Sexton has performed more than adequately so far, completing 20 of 35 passes for 359 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Notes/Things to Watch:

Notre Dame leads the all-time series 16-1, including 4-1 in Chapel Hill. North Carolina’s lone win over the Fighting Irish came in 1960.

Notre Dame must find a way to keep UNC linebacker Bruce Carter away from punter Eric Maust. Carter has blocked four punts this season, including three last week against Connecticut.

Notre Dame has excelled this season despite problems with its field-goal unit. Kicker Brandon Walker has made just 1 of 7 field-goal attempts, including a pair of misses last week against Stanford, and could give way to Ryan Burkhart against the Tar Heels.

UNC sophomore Greg Little, a high school All-American who canceled his commitment to Notre Dame so that he could sign with the Tar Heels, has looked forward to this game for almost two years. But Little’s role might not be as big as he thought. Little has started all five games at tailback this season, but he got just three carries (for 6 yards) last week. Backup Shaun Draughn, a speedster now listed as a co-starter with Little on the depth chart, rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

North Carolina wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate, who rank first and third in the ACC in receiving yards, respectively, enjoyed success against Notre Dame in 2006. The Tar Heels lost the game 45-26, but Nicks made six receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Tate, who leads the ACC and stands third nationally in all-purpose yardage (194.6 per game), returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in that contest.

Key Player (Fighting Irish) — Jimmy Clausen, QB

Notre Dame is playing at UNC for the first time since a sophomore named Joe Montana led his team to 21-14 comeback victory over the Tar Heels in 1975. Clausen, also a sophomore, is making strides in his quest to become the next great Notre Dame quarterback.

Key Player (Tar Heels) — Cameron Sexton, QB

Sexton has performed well in two games this season, but he has had a problem with interceptions in his career. He made a poor decision resulting in an interception in the red zone last week, and he must be careful not to force the issue against Notre Dame.

North Carolina by 3