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CHAPEL HILL (AP) — North Carolina's Everett Withers is still waiting for his Tar Heels to bring him the first takeaway of his brief head-coaching career.

The Tar Heels didn't force a turnover in their first two games, a strange stat for a defense that racked up 58 interceptions in the past three seasons. Worse, the offense has committed six turnovers of its own.

Although that ACC-worst margin hasn't tripped them up just yet, the Tar Heels know it can't continue if they want to reverse their long losing streak in league openers Saturday against Virginia.

"We really just have to capitalize on opportunities that present themselves," said safety Matt Merletti, who dropped an interception in last weekend's win against Rutgers. "Coach always makes a big deal about that, and this is the first time I can remember our team doing this. It's not a good feeling, but there's room for improvement like there always is."

North Carolina (2-0) hasn't won its ACC opener since beating Wake Forest in 2000 under Carl Torbush. John Bunting lost all six of his, and Butch Davis dropped four before his unexpected firing a week before preseason camp.

Withers, the interim coach, had spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator as the Tar Heels grabbed 20 interceptions in 2008, and 19 in both 2009 and 2010. So far this year, he's watched his players drop interceptions or fail to recover a pair of loose fumbles in the first two games.

Withers said the lack of takeaways was more about focus or concentration than bad technique.

"When they happen, they happen, and they usually start coming," he said. "And if you start pressing, you start making other mistakes. So play fundamental football, make the plays that come to you, try to see why you didn't make the plays earlier and they'll happen."

So far, that's been the only sluggish area for a defense that ranks third nationally in rushing defense (30 yards per game) and seventh nationally in sacks (nine). Both are best in the ACC.

The lack of takeaways might not be as troubling if the offense hadn't committed five turnovers in the 24-22 win against the Scarlet Knights. Three came on interceptions thrown by sophomore Bryn Renner. The Tar Heels lost two fumbles, though they put the ball on the turf three other times.

Virginia coach Mike London is hoping the trend continues, particularly when it comes to the Tar Heels' lack of takeaways.

"If they could wait one more game, I'd appreciate that," London said. "I think they play hard. You see the ball thrown in the air, they go after it. ... Sometimes it's a matter of where the ball lands. The safety had his hands on a couple of balls that could have been interceptions, so it's not from a lack of trying."

The Cavaliers (2-0) have thrown two interceptions and lost a pair of fumbles, but they've forced five takeaways to offset their mistakes.

The Tar Heels are hoping to do the same soon.

"We call them MOBPs — missed opportunities for big plays," Withers said. "You need to have those and our kids know that term. They know MOBP like they wake up to it in the morning."

Associated Press sports writer Hank Kurz in Charlottesville, Va., contributed to this report.