The Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) and North Carolina Tar Heels (2-0) square off at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. for a 12 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday (on ABC). Below, we analyze the Virginia Tech-North Carolina college football betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
The Tar Heels are the No. 9 team in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports. The Hokies are ranked No. 18.
Virginia Tech at North Carolina: Betting odds and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: North Carolina -189 (bet $189 to win $100) | Virginia Tech +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
- Against the spread/ATS: North Carolina -4.5 (-106) | Virginia Tech +4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 59.5 (O: -106 | U: -115)
Virginia Tech at North Carolina: Three things to know
- The Hokies enjoyed their trip last week to the Triangle, posting a 38-31 win at Duke, although they failed to cover an 11.5-point number. The key to Virginia Tech’s early-season success has been their running of the football, posting 319.0 yards per game on the ground to rank third and they’re 10th in the nation with 41.5 PPG.
- UNC got back into action after a three-week hiatus due to COVID concerns for their previously scheduled opponents. They finally got back on the field at Boston College and scratched out a nice 26-22 road win against a tough defense.
- The Tar Heels have a tough D of their own, allowing just 277.5 total yards per game to rank ninth, and they’re first in the country with only 54.0 rushing yards per game allowed. They’re 10th in the land with 14.0 PPG, too.
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Virginia Tech at North Carolina: Odds, betting lines and picks
Prediction
North Carolina 34, Virginia Tech 31
Money line (ML)
NORTH CAROLINA (-189) is just a little over my personal limit for a singular money line play, but I’ll break my own rule here. I think with a 4.5-point number, the visitors keep it close and grab the cover, but the Heels go on to win outright.
Against the spread (ATS)
VIRGINIA TECH +4.5 (-110) is worth a small-unit play, and I’m not totally sold on QB Sam Howell and the North Carolina -4.5 (-110) pass offense after last week’s narrow escape in Chestnut Hill. The Hokies have faced all kinds of early-season adversity with cancellations, they were missing 23 players in a win against N.C. State and they still persevered. I like the mettle of the Gobblers so far.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 59.5 (-110) is also worth a look, as Virginia Tech’s offense has been on point despite some issues under center early on due to COVID. The Over is a perfect 2-0 for the Hokies to date, while the Under is 2-0 for the Heels. This is easily North Carolina’s biggest test to date, as Virginia Tech’s offense is way more potent than that of Syracuse and Boston College, their two previous foes.
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