James Madison at North Carolina odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s James Madison at North Carolina odds and lines, with college football expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0) welcome the James Madison Dukes (2-0) to Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon ET (ACC Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the James Madison vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

North Carolina opened its season up with a 19-17 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road, pushing as a 1-point favorite. It beat the Charlotte 49ers 38-20 in Week 2 action and the North Carolina Central Eagles 45-10 in Week 3, failing to cover as a 21-point and 38-point favorite. North Carolina is 0-2-1 against the spread (ATS) through 3 weeks.

James Madison has also played the Charlotte 49ers and beat them 30-7 to start the season, covering as a 6.5-point favorite. It beat Gardner-Webb 13-6 in Week 2, failing to cover as a massive 36.5-point favorite. The Dukes are led by dual-threat QB Alonza Barnett who has 354 passing yards and 104 rushing yards in 2 games. The Dukes are 1-1 ATS.

– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

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James Madison at 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 2:51 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): James Madison +333 (bet $100 to win $333) | North Carolina -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): James Madison +10.5 (-110) | North Carolina -10.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 48.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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James Madison at North Carolina picks and predictions

Prediction

North Carolina 27, James Madison 17

Moneyline

PASS.

There’s no real value here. The Tar Heels should come out on top and have done so in every game this season. However, they are too expensive to play to win outright.

Against the spread

BET JAMES MADISON +10.5 (-110).

North Carolina hasn’t covered large spreads this season, and that’s concerning. It won by 18 and 35, respectively closing as a 21-point and 38-point favorite. The Tar Heels don’t have a lot of consistency at quarterback with both their top options having a sub-63% completion percentage.

North Carolina is 0-2 ATS as a favorite of 10 or more. James Madison didn’t cover as a massive favorite in Week 2, but it did blow out Charlotte when it was only a 6.5-point favorite. Expect it to keep this within single digits. Take JAMES MADISON +10.5 (-110).

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Over/Under

BET UNDER 48.5 (-110).

James Madison has gone Under in both games this season and has allowed a total of 13 points between those 2 games. It has held both its opponents this season to under 200 passing yards, so North Carolina may not be able to move the ball down the field frequently.

UNC has scored at will but has yet to allow more than 20 in a game. It went Under the 52.5-point total in its lone game as a favorite of less than 20. Expect a hard-fought and close battle. Take UNDER 48.5 (-110).

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James Madison at North Carolina odds, picks, and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s James Madison at North Carolina odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The James Madison Dukes (4-0) take on the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0) Sunday. Tip-off from Dean E. Smith Center is at noon ET (ACC Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the James Madison vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

While the Dukes are 4-0, none of these games have come against an opponent the likes of the Tar Heels. James Madison currently sports a bloated 105.3 points per game average — 2nd in the nation. The top-ranked Tar Heels rank 88th with 81 points per game.

The Dukes are 1 in the country with a 48.5-point average margin of victory compared to an 11.7-point margin for North Carolina.

James Madison has started the season hot. North Carolina, despite being undefeated and ranked no. 1, has been a bit shaky.

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James Madison at North Carolina odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:41 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): James Madison +475 (bet $100 to win $475) | North Carolina -750 (bet $750 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): James Madison +11.5 (-110) | North Carolina -11.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 157.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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James Madison at North Carolina picks and predictions

Prediction

North Carolina 82, James Madison 75

Moneyline

PASS.

North Carolina (-750) is the right side, but the number is far too large to make a standalone wager on. If you really think North Carolina is shaky then James Madison (+475) is interesting, but it is not likely to win and is probably not worth it.

Against the spread

BET JAMES MADISON +11.5 (-110).

North Carolina has been shaky early in the year and is 0-3 ATS despite being undefeated and ranked No. 1. This is likely to continue Sunday against a Dukes team who can score in bunches. JAMES MADISON +11.5 (-110) is my favorite play.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 157.5 (-110).

The Dukes can score, as noted above, and UNC is scoring more than 80 points per game. While these numbers tend to lean Over, James Madison will come across a defense in North Carolina unlikely any it has seen so far this season. Another 100-point showing is not in the cards for the Dukes as North Carolina would like to keep this game in the 70s. My feeling is this will happen. So although it is only a slight lean, I like the UNDER 157.5 (-110).

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