North Carolina and West Virginia are gearing up for an exciting showdown in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, marking the third all-time meeting between the two teams. Both previous encounters happened in the postseason, adding an extra layer of anticipation to this matchup.

The first meeting between the Tar Heels and the Mountaineers took place in the 1997 Gator Bowl, despite the teams sharing the Southern Conference from 1950-1953. It wasn't until 2008, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl (now known as the Duke's Mayo Bowl), that they had a rematch. West Virginia emerged victorious with a narrow 31-30 win, leveling the all-time series at 1-1.

West Virginia enters the Duke's Mayo Bowl on the back of a stellar season under fifth-year head coach Neal Brown. After a disappointing 5-7 record in the previous year, the Mountaineers rebounded with an impressive 8-4 record in the regular season. They built considerable momentum by winning four of their last five games, setting the stage for a strong showing in the bowl game.

On the other hand, North Carolina experienced a contrasting trajectory during the season, mirroring their path in 2022. The Tar Heels started with a six-game winning streak, led by standout quarterback Drake Maye, who was even in contention for the Heisman Trophy. However, a loss to Virginia on October 21 sent their season spiraling downward. North Carolina finished with a 2-4 record in their last six games, losing their final two games by an average of 15 points.

In terms of player availability, North Carolina will be without quarterback Drake Maye, who opted out of the Duke's Mayo Bowl in preparation for the 2024 NFL Draft. This means redshirt freshman Conner Harrell will step in as the Tar Heels' quarterback, offering fans a chance to see his potential on the field. West Virginia, however, will also face challenges with starting center Zach Frazier and leading rusher CJ Donaldson both ruled out due to injury.

Star running back Omarion Hampton will likely carry a significant workload for North Carolina, considering their inexperienced quarterback situation and the absence of their top receiver, Devontez Walker. Hampton had an impressive season, accumulating 1,442 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He will undoubtedly look to exploit West Virginia's vulnerable run defense, which finished last in the Big 12, allowing 234.3 yards per game.

While North Carolina might be at a disadvantage due to the absence of key players and injuries, they have the potential to keep the game close. West Virginia enters as the favorites, but North Carolina's reliance on Hampton and their ability to cover the spread should make for an exciting and closely contested matchup.