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The Minnesota Golden Gophers welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels to Huntington Bank Stadium Thursday for the season-opening game for both programs. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET (FOX). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the North Carolina vs. Minnesota odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Golden Gophers finished last season 6-7 and 3-6 in Big Ten action. Minnesota returns a slew of offensive players with 10 of the 11 starters with the program last season. QB Max Brosmer is the new addition, having spent the last several seasons with the New Hampshire Wildcats.
The Tar Heels will need to learn what life is like after QB Drake Maye, who was virtually the team’s entire offense last season. Maye was taken 3rd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. North Carolina finished a disappointing 8-5 and 4-4 in ACC play. It will be getting back RB Omarion Hampton, who rushed 1,504 yards last season with 16 TDs. The Tar Heels will be led by QB Max Johnson, who has had stints at Texas A&M and LSU, with his best season coming in 2021 with the Tigers where he threw for 27 TDs and 6 INTs.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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North Carolina at Minnesota odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 7:01 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): North Carolina -130 (bet $100 to win $100) | Minnesota +108 (bet $100 to win $108)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Carolina -1.5 (-120) | Minnesota +1.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 50.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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North Carolina at Minnesota picks and predictions
Prediction
North Carolina 27, Minnesota 23
Moneyline
BET NORTH CAROLINA (-130).
The Tar Heels have a solid accumulation of talent led by a veteran QB. In the ACC, Johnson should have less pressure than as the sole weapon at Texas A&M and is healthy entering 2024. He’s going to have skilled players like Hampton around him.
North Carolina throttled Minnesota 31-13 last season and won its first 6 games, which included non-conference wins over App State and South Carolina.
Minnesota did add Brosmer, but his play at this level is still in question. While he was a standout at New Hampshire, that’s certainly not the standard he’ll need to be at to succeed at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers were just 4-9 against the spread (ATS) last season.
Take the more talented team and back NORTH CAROLINA (-130).
Against the spread
PASS.
While there is some value here, the preferred risk is on the moneyline after the marginal spread. Either play is acceptable, but the moneyline is the preferred route.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 50.5 (-110).
While the offenses might have had some intense scrimmages and preseason action, things might not always go as planned to start the season. North Carolina and Minnesota both have new starting QBs who are unproven at this level.
Despite the dynamic offense with Maye leading the way, UNC was 6-6-1 O/U last season while Minnesota was 6-7 . Expect at least some early-game struggles for UNC to move the ball and back UNDER 50.5 (-110).
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