“Really good team . . . good athletes . . . very dangerous.’’ More often than not, the script is the same, whether the opponent is Northeastern or Virginia Tech.

Coaching 101 says never bad-mouth an opponent.

The praise from Boston College this week for North Carolina, however, had a ring of truth to it. The Eagles are a 3 1/2-point home favorite, but the Tar Heels’ consecutive wins over Virginia Tech, Duke and, most significantly, Miami, has BC focused and concerned.

“They have a great scheme,’’ said middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin. “They had NFL guys on their roster last year and they have NFL guys on the roster this year. You have to understand the animal you are playing. If you don’t execute, it’s going to get ugly.’’

BC coach Frank Spaziani echoed the mantra. “Everybody has people that can beat you and hurt you,’’ said Spaziani. “But they have a whole team that can hurt you. Butch [Davis] has done a good job down there putting it together.’’

North Carolina is 7-3, the same as BC, but the Tar Heels have had some disappointing losses.

“I can explain away what happened to them,’’ said Spaziani, who has studied every game the Tar Heels have played this season. “Georgia Tech [a 24-7 loss] kept the ball for 42 minutes on them, Virginia [a 16-3 loss] is a rivalry game . . . they play those guys tough every time. Then Florida State [a 30-27 loss], they were ahead a billion to nothing and it was one of those avalanches they couldn’t stop it.’’

The Tar Heels haven’t lost since Oct. 22 against the Seminoles and have improved, especially on defense. Miami went to Chapel Hill, N.C., last Saturday and was stripped clean by the Tar Heel defense, particularly cornerback Kendric Burney, who intercepted three of Miami quarterback Jacory Harris’s passes and returned one 77 yards for a touchdown in Carolina’s 33-24 victory.

“They’re a real good football team that could easily be 9-1 as 7-3,’’ said Spaziani. “If we play like we did last week [a sloppy 14-10 win over Virginia], it’s not going to get it done. We’ve got to play error-free ball and hang on.’’

The Eagles can do that defensively and have all season, with the exception of a 48-14 loss at Virginia Tech, which was essentially over by halftime.

BC has not lost at home this season, but it hasn’t faced the quality of the Atlantic Coast Conference (the Eagles were on the road against Clemson and Virginia Tech). And the Eagles are thin at running back, where Montel Harris has assumed the primary workload since Josh Haden left the team and Rolandan Finch was sidelined for a month with mononucleosis.

It is the seniors’ final game at Alumni Stadium today, and McLaughlin said emotions will be running high. “You don’t want it any bigger than this,’’ he said. “It’s going to be like a Raven-Steeler game. You can’t ask for anything more. It doesn’t get any better than that.’’

The Eagles still remember last year’s 45-24 pounding by the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. “They thumped us pretty good last year,’’ said senior safety Wes Davis. “That’s something you don’t forget.’’

Davis sees another potent group in this season’s Tar Heels squad. “Before the season, I thought North Carolina was one of the most talented teams in our league. Their defense is amazing. It seems they are hitting on all cylinders now. They have raw talent on every level of their defense.’’

If there is an edge in motivation, however, it is on BC’s side. The Eagles still have a slight chance of winning their third consecutive Atlantic Division championship.

Even if the Eagles defeat North Carolina, their title hopes could be dashed a few hours later if Clemson defeats Virginia. A victory will give the Tigers the Atlantic crown.

BC has other incentives, of course. The Eagles want to finish the season unbeaten at home, something only one BC squad (2006) has done since 1985.

“We’re going to have our work cut out for us,’’ said wide receiver Rich Gunnell.

Parking lots will open at 9 a.m. for tailgating and will remain open for two hours after the game . . . Linebacker Mark Herzlich will receive the Disney Spirit Award at the ESPN College Football Awards ceremony Dec. 10 in Orlando, Fla. The Eagles have led an aggressive fund-raising campaign by partnering with Uplifting Athletes, raising more than $115,000 to battle Ewing’s Sarcoma, the form of bone cancer that has afflicted Herzlich.

North Carolina vs. BC
When: Today, noon
Where: Alumni Stadium
TV, radio: ESPN2, WEEI (850)