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The No. 13 North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0) welcome the Syracuse Orange (4-1) to Kenan Memorial Stadium Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Syracuse vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Tar Heels beat the Pittsburgh Panthers 41-24 in Week 4, covering as a 7-point road favorite. North Carolina had a bye last week. It is 3-1 against the spread (ATS) and has won 3 of its 4 games by double figures. It is just 1-1 ATS at home though. The Tar Heels are led by projected top-3 pick QB Drake Maye, who has 5 TDs and 4 INTs in 4 games. North Carolina is No. 13 in the US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Syracuse is coming off its 1st loss of the season, a 31-14 defeat at home against the Clemson Tigers. The Orange closed as a 7.5-point underdog. They are 1-0 ATS on the road and 3-1-1 ATS on the season. In Syracuse’s lone road game, it won 35-20 over Purdue. QB Garrett Schrader leads the team, throwing for 8 TDs and also tallying 340 rushing yards.
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Syracuse at North Carolina odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 9:51 a.m. ET,
- Moneyline (ML): Syracuse +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | North Carolina -375 (bet $375 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Syracuse +10 (-110) | North Carolina -10 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 59.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Syracuse at North Carolina picks and predictions
Prediction
North Carolina 31, Syracuse 24
Moneyline
PASS.
Simply put, the Tar Heels haven’t been good enough to warrant a -375 favorite. However, at home, they shouldn’t be bet against either, especially after Syracuse struggled more than expected against Clemson in Week 5.
Avoid this play all around.
Against the spread
LEAN SYRACUSE +10 (-110).
The Orange struggled against Clemson, but otherwise, they have impressed. They beat Army 29-16, Purdue 35-10 and Western Michigan 48-7. On the road, they are 1-0 ATS.
For North Carolina, it is 1-1 ATS at home but is 0-1 ATS this season as a favorite of 10 or more points. Back SYRACUSE +10 (-110).
Over/Under
BET UNDER 59.5 (-110).
Both teams have had solid defensive efforts this season. Syracuse ranks 21st in the nation in opponents yards per play at 4.6 with North Carolina sitting 35th at 5.0. The Orange are 1-4 O/U and have held their opponent to 20 or fewer in 4 of 5 games.
UNC is 2-2 O/U, but has scored more than 31 points just twice and will be facing a competent defense. Also, had 20 points not been scored in overtime in the UNC-App State game, that would’ve ducked under the 58.5 total. Given both teams’ trends, back UNDER 59.5 (-110).
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