We've been waiting for this one since November 20, and the win over Duke at Wallace Waste stadium (that's not a commentary on Wallace Wade the man, but the stadium is a horrible, horrible facility).

But I digress.  Kick-off for the Continental Tire Bowl is less than 27 hours away as I write this, and I'm about to hit the road to Charlotte.  If you're not going to be in BofA Stadium Thursday, it'll be on at 1 pm on ESPN2.

So the Tar Heels face the future conference rival Boston College Eagles.  Besides the annoyance that we will face the Eagles pretty regularly, it looks to be a good matchup.  So, what can we look for?  I'm excited about writing this as it's my first football preview since HeelsBlog began.

1) Lots and lots and lots of blue.  I've heard estimates of 60-65,000 tickets sold to Tar Heel fans for the game, and I expect them all to be wearing blue.  It is going to be a true home game with probably more Carolina fans in BofA than have been in Kenan for any one game all season (given the capacity).

2) Choo Choo Chad Scott.  The O-Line is as pumped as ever to line up against BC's size.  I've read some previews saying that the Tar Heels won't be able to run against BC, but I just don't buy it.  Chad dropped 175 yards on the Miami Hurricanes, and he's a smart runner.  He knows when to stay with his cuts and not try to be too fancy.  Big game from #6.

3) Big plays on both sides of the ball.  Gerald Sensabaugh may be the best one-year wonder since Bob McAdoo.  He's going to hit somebody, and I wouldn't be surprised to see an INT by his name before it's over.  BC's QB has been sidelined with a fractured throwing hand, so he may be a little sloppy.  Offensively, #9 Jesse Holley will have something to say.  Now's not the time for it, but I am sooo excited about our returning receiving corps.  Also, Darian Durant will want to have a great finale.

4) BC is going to want to run on the Tar Heels, so we have to find a way to stop it.  Someone needs to step up from the front seven, and Tommy Richardson must make himself a factor.

5) Most places I read say Carolina by 3 or 4, and one says BC by 4.  Don't forget about the home-field advantage.  This one is going to be a lot of fun.

Great article from Chapel Hill News about Woody Durham's legacy, consistency, and how he prepares for each game and show.

Football Heels get a taste of NASCAR.  Darian Durant said something in the N&O the other day about how he'd "never been over 110 in a car before."

Darian Durant's NFL chances detailed in News & Observer.

Box score

Wow.  The first game of this stretch after the break was an up-and-down affair.  The Heels got the win, yes, but what an ugly game.  The first half was fantastic, capped off by a Melvin Scott 3-pointer that was great to see, especially for Melvin himself.  I think he needed that confidence boost.  But the first fifteen minutes of the second half - wow - what a snoozer.  The crowd was absolutely dead.  The officials (Alan Spainhour, especially) decided to try to reel in a game that wasn't winnable for UNC-W.  I don't know why the refs thought that they should insert themselves into the flow of the game.  1) I'm biased, and 2) I can't see every little thing that goes on from row R of section 205, but it seems like the technicals were silly.  And a double technical is the worst cop-out in all of sports.  It means that you, as an official, didn't see what happened, and you're taking the easy way out.  If something happened, a player on one team or the other had to start it.  Melvin might have been jawing, but it wasn't at the ref, and the UNC-W player pushed him.  I saw that much.  Double technicals need to be eliminated.  If you don't know who is accountable, don't make the call.

Jawad looked great.  Just great.  He played tough, probably remembering last year's concussion against the Seahawks.  Jawad is a leader, and played like it.  He and Sean just dominated UNC-W on the blocks.

Quentin Thomas is getting more and more confident off the bench as the point guard.  I think some of us Carolina fans need to just be patient with the kid.  His only offense is not being Raymond Felton.  He had no shot attempts and some nice assists last night.  In some cases he might have been trying to do too much, but Roy will reel that in.  And the hair?  I hear you, Q!  One love, baby!

Sean May gets co-USA player of the year with Wake Forest's Chris Paul.

Erlana Larkins led the Lady Heels with 22 points to a 46-point drubbing over Lipscomb.