Free Daily NFL Lock Pick, Thursday October 19th: Jacksonville vs New Orleans 8:15pmET
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Both ends of the ACC standings will share a field Saturday, with the Virginia Cavaliers (1-5; 4-2-0 ATS) taking a trip to Chapel Hill where the #10 UNC Tar Heels (6-0; 5-1-0 ATS) await. The Tar Heels have won the past two meetings with the Cavaliers. They'll try to make it three at home, with Kenan Stadium hosting yet again. Virginia will be geared to ruin a rival's playoff hopes at 6:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Let's see what each school has in store for this October clash.
The last time the Cavaliers were on a football field, they were leaving with their first win of 2023. After a bye last weekend, Virginia will fight for their first Power Five victory of this season in North Carolina. Win number one was the first which featured Virginia holding an opponent under 24 points. For a group allowing 31.8 points per game (an ACC-worst mark), Saturday is going to be a tough task. A lot of the damage comes on the ground, where the Cavaliers are surrendering 177.0 yards per game. It doesn't help that they trail often, but Virginia is also giving up 4.4 yards per carry. Through the air, Virginia's foes complete 63.2% of their passes and average 7.1 yards per attempt. Overall, this unit allows 379.8 yards per game. Will the win and bye week give them a spark, or is another defensive dud in store this weekend?
If the defense falters, an offense averaging 22.4 points per game (also last in t he ACC) probably won't bail them out. Virginia's only game with at least 30 points came against James Madison (in a losing effort), and that's a number they'll probably need to hit on Saturday. Senior wide receiver Malik Washington has been the star offensively, bringing 44 catches, 668 yards (8th in the nation), and five touchdowns into this game. He has at least five snags and 95 yards in the past five games. Washington paces a passing game picking up 249.3 yards per game between two different starting QBs this season. Tony Muskett should start again in this one. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are gaining 99.5 rushing yards per game. Guess where that ranks among conference rivals. Perris Jones is the only Cavalier with at least 30 carries averaging at least 4.0 per attempt. Basketball season can't arrive quickly enough in Charlottesville.
Free Daily NFL Lock Pick, Thursday October 19th: Jacksonville vs New Orleans 8:15pmET CLICK TO SEE PICK NOW