News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

• Giglio: Heels will not run the table

It’s an early guess, but I think North Carolina is going to finish the regular season at 11-1 — maybe 10-2 if things go poorly or 9-3 if the roof totally collapses.

The roof isn’t going collapse, though. The Tar Heels, as established by their win over Connecticut on Saturday in Chapel Hill, have way too much personnel to fall victim to another big injury or two. The thing we know now, but sort of suspected in preseason, is that Butch Davis has added enough talent on what John Bunting left behind to turn the Heels into a legitimate top-20 national program.

• Tudor: UNC will run the table

UNC is good, Peach Bowl good, but not BCS good.

Tudor is confused. That's happens when you've been in this business as long as he has. He covered Notre Dame's last trip to Kenan Stadium in 1975 (the year I was born).

There's no doubt the Tar Heels are better in their second season under Butch Davis. They are winning on the road, and so far, winning the games they're supposed to. That's the sign of good coaching.

• Late Hits archive

Boston College: Quarterback Chris Crane threw for 461 total yards in the first four games of the season before uncorking 428 in a wild 38-31 win over N.C. State, to go with five total touchdowns.

Note: J.P. Giglio is one of 65 voters in the AP Top 25. This is his ballot.

• JP Top 25 archive
• AP Top 25

Where’s UNC? The short answer is No. 26.

The long answer is the Tar Heels lost at home. You get extra credit for road wins and lose points for home losses in my book.

Staff photo by Robert Willett

• First Look
• Photo gallery

CHAPEL HILL — Who needs T.J. Yates to make big plays? Not UNC.

In the second game without Yates, their injured starting quarterback, the Heels found new ways to make big plays. They blocked a punt for a touchdown, returned an interception for a touchdown, set up another with an interception and got a 39-yard touchdown run by Shaun Draughn in a 38-12 win over No. 24 UConn.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Marc Verica threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Virginia finally clicked on offense and stunned Maryland 31-0 on Saturday night.

The Cavaliers (2-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) had been outscored 128-20 in three previous games against Bowl Subdivision teams, but exploded on offense against Maryland.