T-Row's Top 25...No. 20 North Carolina

<p><em class="gnmEkDate">Originally Published: Aug 11, 2010 5:57 PM CDT</em></p><P>Each morning on my radio show for the next five weeks Ill be counting down my preseason college football Top 25 with some

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 1:25 pm

By: News 9


Originally Published: Aug 11, 2010 5:57 PM CDT

Each morning on my radio show for the next five weeks Ill be counting down my preseason college football Top 25 with some pertinent info about each team. It is without a doubt the most insignificant and unreliable preseason Top 25 youll find anywhere.

#20 North Carolina

I think Butch Davis boys will start the season with a bang by beating our #21-ranked team LSU in the season-opener in Atlanta. The Tarheels should have one of the best defenses in the nation. If their offense is above average, theyll be really dangerous.

UNC boasts of a plethora of future NFL players on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked 6th in the nation in total yards allowed, and in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, passing defense and tackles for loss in 2009. Defensive end Robert Quinn, defensive tackles Marvin Austin and Tydreke Powell, linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant and defensive backs Kendric Burney and Deunta Williams could all end up playing on Sundays.

The offense will rely heavily on the arm of senior quarterback T.J. Yates. Hes been hot and cold in his career, but he has a ton of returning experience around him. The Tarheels top five rushers and a reliable receiving corps return. Ryan Houston and Shaun Draughn are known as "Thunder and Lightning" in the backfield, but they failed to live up to their hype last season.

I think North Carolina is still a notch below the cream of the crop in the ACC. Theyll lose at Miami, at Florida State and to Virginia Tech. But their nine wins and opening victory over LSU will land them in a solid bowl.

Prediction: 9-3.

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