North Carolina vs. Missouri: The 7 Best Matchups of the 2011 Independence Bowl

There aren't many defensive ends out there who can rack up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in a season, and have it be called a down campaign, but when you're the type of special talent that Quinton Coples is, people are going to have the highest of expectations for you.

Coples may not have been able to match his preseason hype this year, but a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that he faced double-teams all season long.

The 6'6'', 270-pound senior is still one of the most gifted defensive ends in college football, and he's destined to be a Top-15 pick in the 2012 draft.

Missouri's Jacquies Smith is certainly a more under-the-radar player than Coples, but he's no slouch.

Smith, who finished his senior season with five sacks and eight tackles for loss, is one of the most talented pass-rushers in the country, and the 6'5'', 255-pound senior has the type of edge speed to cause headaches for opposing offensive tackles.

Edge: Quinton Coples

QB: James Franklin vs. Bryn Renner

Missouri's James Franklin and North Carolina's Bryn Renner were both first-year sophomore starters this season, and while both had some bouts of inconsistency this season, the two young signal-callers look like they each have bright futures ahead of them.

Franklin totaled 3,610 yards of offense and accounted for 33 touchdowns this season, and he gave us glimpses of the type of star player he could become in 2012.

Renner, on the other hand, completed 69 percent of his passes, threw for 2,769 yards and hit 23 touchdown strikes.

Because Franklin has more to offer with his legs, he gets the edge, but this one has the chance to be quite a quarterback duel.

Edge: James Franklin

RB: Giovani Bernard vs. Kendial Lawrence

Missouri's Kendial Lawrence has done an admirable job replacing Henry Josey, who went down for the season with an injury, but Lawrence can't compare talent-wise to North Carolina's Giovani Bernard.

After missing his entire freshman season with a knee injury, Bernard bounced back without a problem in 2011, as he broke onto the ACC scene, rushing for 1,222 yards, scoring 14 touchdowns and hauling in 39 passes for 326 yards.

Bernard is North Carolina's most dangerous offensive weapon, and the Missouri defense better make sure it knows where No. 26 is at all times.

Edge: Giovani Bernard

WR: Dwight Jones vs. T.J. Moe

North Carolina’s Dwight Jones will have one last chance to impress NFL scouts in the Independence Bowl. Jones opened a lot of eyes this season, as he caught 79 passes for 1,119 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

The 6'4'', 225-pound senior is going to be one of the top available receivers for the 2012 NFL draft, and he could use a big performance against Missouri to really vault him into Day 2 consideration.

Missouri's T.J. Moe may not possess the pro potential that Jones does, but he's still a very productive player in his own right.

Moe's production slipped without Blaine Gabbert this season, but the 6'0'', 195-pound senior still led the Tigers with 54 catches.

Edge: Dwight Jones

TE: Michael Egnew vs. Eric Ebron

North Carolina’s Eric Ebron is one of the most intriguing, athletic freshman tight ends in the country, but there’s no question which team holds the tight end advantage in this game.

Missouri’s Michael Egnew is one of the most dangerous receiving tight ends in the country, and he’s got the production to back it up.

Over the last two years, the big 6’6’’, 245-pound senior has hauled in 137 passes for 1,246 yards and scored eight touchdowns.

Egnew is definitely the type of tight end who can put a lot of stress on a defense and make things happen up the seam.

Edge: Michael Egnew

DL: Quinton Coples vs. Jacquies Smith

There aren't many defensive ends out there that can rack up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in a season, and have it be called a down campaign, but when you're the type of special talent that Quinton Coples is, people are going to have the highest of expectations for you.

Coples may not have been able to match his preseason hype this year, but a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that he faced double-teams all season long.

The 6'6'', 270-pound senior is still one of the most gifted defensive ends in college football, and he's destined to be a Top-15 pick in the 2012 draft.

Missouri's Jacquies Smith is certainly a more under-the-radar player than Coples, but he's no slouch.

Smith, who finished his senior season with five sacks and eight tackles for loss, is one of the most talented pass-rushers in the country, and the 6'5'', 255-pound senior has the type of edge speed to cause headaches for opposing offensive tackles.

Edge: Quinton Coples

LB: Zach Brown vs. Andrew Wilson

North Carolina's Zach Brown and Missouri's Andrew Wilson were each one of the top linebackers in their respective conferences this season, and both of them led their teams in tackles in 2011.

Brown racked up 91 tackles and 5.5 sacks, while Wilson notched 89 total stops this year.

Both are athletic and intelligent weakside linebacker types who never have any trouble deciphering a play and finding the football.

Brown is likely destined to be a first-round pick in the 2012 draft, and it wouldn't be surprising if Wilson ends up in the same position in a few years, but because Brown has the experience advantage, he gets the edge.

Edge: Zach Brown

DB: Tre Boston vs. Kenji Jackson

Neither of these teams have a true standout player in the secondary, but there are a few defensive backs that are worth watching in this game.

Two of the main players to focus on are safeties Tre Boston and Kenji Jackson.

North Carolina may statistically have one of the worst secondaries in the country as the Tar Heels give up 246 yards through the air per game—which ranks 90th in the nationbut Tre Boston has been a shining light this season, as he's picked off three passes and racked up 64 tackles.

The 6'1'', 190-pound sophomore definitely has a bright future ahead of him.

Kenji Jackson may not have the raw natural ability that Boston possesses, but he's still been a difference-maker in the Missouri secondary for the past few seasons.

This year, Jackson finished fourth on the team with 71 tackles and he picked off three passes.

Look for both safeties to be heavily involved for their respective defenses in this game.

Edge: Tre Boston