Fenway Bowl: UConn vs. North Carolina odds, picks and predictions

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The UConn Huskies (8-4) and North Carolina Tar Heels (6-6) meet Saturday in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in Boston. Kickoff from Fenway Park is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the UConn vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

The Huskies outlasted UMass 47-42 in the regular-season finale, but failed to cover as 7.5-point favorites while the Over (49.5) easily came in. UConn is 4-1 straight up and 2-1-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 5 games. The Over is 3-0-1 in the previous 4 outings, too.

For the Tar Heels, all of the headlines are already about 2025, as NFL legendary coach Bill Belichick lands in Chapel Hill to take the reins. Until then, interim coach Freddie Kitchens is steering the ship in place of the fired Mack Brown.

North Carolina lost 41-21 at Boston College Nov. 23 and fell 35-30 to rival NC State Nov. 30 in the season finale. North Carolina closed 0-3 ATS in the final 3 games, while going a dismal 2-9-1 ATS on the season. The Over cashed in the final 2 games, as the defense allowed 38.0 points per game (PPG). It’s the first time all season the Over cashed in consecutive games for the Tar Heels.

In addition to losing Brown, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay is gone, too, leaving wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway presumably as the interim OC. He scripted plays at practice, and called plays at the Holiday Bowl 2 years ago as a replacement.

North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton has opted out as he readies for the 2025 NFL Draft. He had 1,660 rushing yards and 15 TDs, and his yardage total was 2nd in the nation only behind Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty.

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UConn vs. North Carolina odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated Friday at 12:40 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): UConn +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | North Carolina -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
Against the spread: UConn +2.5 (-110) | North Carolina -2.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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UConn vs. North Carolina picks and predictions

Prediction

UConn 30, North Carolina 27

Moneyline

UCONN (+110) is worth a look as a short ‘dog.

The focus for North Carolina (-135) is already on next season, although a few guys who were headed to the transfer portal like OG Aidan Banfield and WR Kobe Paysour changed their tune once the Belichick hire was announced, withdrawing from the portal.

However, UConn also wasn’t hit tremendously hard by the portal, although losing leading WR Skyler Bell (47-783-4) will hurt the offense. But, North Carolina is without Hampton, the nation’s 2nd-leading rusher, so that more than makes up for things.

Huskies RB Durrell Robinson also pulled up stakes for Auburn, but RB Cam Edwards is more than capable of leading the charge. Those 2 basically split the duties, with Edwards running for 756 yards and 7 TDs, while Robinson had 731 yards and 8 scores.

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Against the spread

PASS.

Picking UConn +2.5 (-110) makes little to no sense unless you like North Carolina -2.5 (-110) to win, but only by 1 or 2 points.

Over/Under

OVER 52.5 (-110) is the way to be here.

The total went high at a 3-0-1 clip in the final 4 games for UConn, while cashing in the final 2 outings for North Carolina. The Tar Heels defense coughed up 38.0 PPG in those 2 losses to Boston College and NC State, not exactly a murderers’ row.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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