Today's game

Maryland (6-2, 2-1 ACC) at North Carolina (2-6, 0-4)

Site: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Radio: WBAL (1090 AM)

Line: Maryland by 13 1/2

Series: North Carolina leads 35-28

Last meeting: Maryland defeated North Carolina, 23-7, on Sept. 1, 2001.

Last week: Maryland defeated Duke, 45-12, in Durham; North Carolina lost at Wake Forest, 31-0.

Maryland offense vs. North Carolina defense: The Terps' line will miss two starters (tackle Matt Crawford and center Kyle Schmitt), but everything else is clicking. Scott McBrien is averaging 11 yards per pass attempt with only one interception in the past five games, and Latrez Harrison and Scooter Monroe have delivered with 100-yard receiving days in the past two weeks. It has been a month since an opponent scored fewer than 30 points against Carolina, whose free safety, Dexter Reid, leads the league in tackles (13.9 a game). The Tar Heels have only four starters who have played every game this season.

North Carolina offense vs. Maryland defense: Just like their defense, the Tar Heels' offense has struggled with stability, with only four players starting every game at their positions. Even with the loss of Darian Durant (broken thumb), the team passes well with C.J. Stephens, but Carolina has been awful on the ground, averaging 2.9 yards a carry. Tackle William Shime played well last week for Maryland in relief of C.J. Feldheim (out for the season), but depth on the defensive line remains a question. Yet, the Terps have allowed only 13 first-half points in five games.

Special teams: The game matches two of the best kickers in the league in Maryland's Nick Novak and North Carolina's Dan Orner. Novak, who has hit 81 percent of his field-goal tries, has connected on three of his four attempts beyond 50 yards. Orner has made 77 percent of his field-goal tries, but he hit three from outside 50 yards in a game at Syracuse earlier this year.