Minnesota vs. North Carolina Prediction
Unranked Minnesota heads east to Chapel Hill to take on #20 North Carolina at 3:30 PM ET on Saturday on ESPN. Can the Tar Heels cover the 7.5-point spread as home favorites this weekend?
Minnesota is 2-0 straight up this season and 0-2 against the spread. Their best win came against Nebraska.
North Carolina is 2-0 straight up this season and 1-1 against the spread. Their best win came against South Carolina.
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
149 Minnesota Golden Gophers (+7.5) at 150 North Carolina Tar Heels (-7.5); O/U 51
3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2023
Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Minnesota vs. North Carolina Public Betting Information
As of this writing, the public is favoring the Tar Heels in this game. Our CFB Public Betting page shows that 68% of public bets are on North Carolina -7.5. Note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once game time rolls around.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Game Notes
Minnesota redshirt junior starting linebacker Cody Lindenberg has missed the team’s last two contests with a leg injury, and he’s officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against North Carolina. Golden Gophers starting X-receiver Chris Autman-Bell has missed Minnesota’s last two games as well, and he’s questionable for Saturday’s contest. Autman-Bell had 11 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown last season. Minnesota redshirt senior starting tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford is also questionable for the team’s game against UNC, as he’s dealing with an undisclosed ailment. Spann-Ford has 7 catches for 50 yards for the Gophers this year.
North Carolina Tar Heels Game Notes
North Carolina starting running back British Brooks is dealing with a lower-body injury, and he’s questionable for the team’s game against Minnesota on Saturday. Brooks has 15 carries for 103 yards and is averaging 6.9 yards per tote this season.
If Brooks is unable to play or is limited, UNC backup running back Omarion Hampton should see the bulk of the work. Hampton was phenomenal in North Carolina’s 40-34 win over Appalachian State last weekend. The sophomore from Clayton, North Carolina carried the ball 26 times for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns to help the Tar Heels escape with an overtime victory.
Minnesota vs. North Carolina Betting Trends
Minnesota is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games.
Minnesota was 2-3 ATS as the away team last season.
The under is 9-7 in North Carolina’s last 16 games.
The under is 6-3-1 in Minnesota’s last 10 games.
Minnesota vs. North Carolina Betting Prediction
North Carolina’s offense is too explosive for Minnesota to hang with them. The Tar Heels are averaging 6.5 yards per play this season, which ranks 20th in the FBS. Minnesota is only averaging 4.6 yards per play this year, which ranks 96th out of 133 FBS teams. It’s not just the fact that North Carolina has one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in future NFL draft pick Drake Maye, it’s that the Tar Heels are averaging 5.8 yards per rushing attempt this year, a figure that ranks 18th in the country. Minnesota scored 38 points combined in their 2 victories over Nebraska and Eastern Michigan this year. North Carolina scored 40 points against Appalachian State last week. Largely because of their dynamic offense, I like the Tar Heels to come out on top by more than a touchdown at home on Saturday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 3 PREDICTION: NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS -7.5