It's only partially a metaphor.
Well, it's a national TV game against a good team (and I have no idea how UNC blew that game - and maybe an ACC championship game - against Virginia Tech). I guess we should have expected this.
Hey, it's just a non-conference game. It's not the end of the world. Better for Frazer to make his dumb plays in a game that materially means nothing.
On the other hand, maybe those college football gurus are right, and that when the special teams and turnovers fail UConn, the house falls down like so many cheap playing cards.
What a perfect time for a bye week.