North Carolina vs. Minnesota prediction, odds, time: 2024 college football picks, Week 1 bets by top model

The Minnesota Golden Gophers host the North Carolina Tar Heels to open Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Minnesota has won 10 straight games in August, while UNC has won four of its past five games played in Week 1. However, both teams struggled against the spread to close 2023. The Tar Heels finished last season 1-6 against the spread in their final seven games, while Minnesota was 1-5 ATS in its last five contests. This ACC vs. Big Ten battle is an appetizer for the loaded Week 1 college football schedule, but oddsmakers expect a tightly contested bout on Thursday night.

Kickoff from Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. The Tar Heels are 1.5-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. Minnesota odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 52. Before you lock in any Minnesota vs. North Carolina picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model .

The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It is also coming off a profitable 13-9 season on top-rated spread picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen strong returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on North Carolina vs. Minnesota and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks . Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Minnesota vs. North Carolina:

• UNC vs. Minnesota spread: UNC -1.5
• UNC vs. Minnesota over/under: 52 points
• UNC vs. Minnesota money line: UNC -127, Minnesota +106
• UNC: The Tar Heels are 2-5 against the spread in their past seven games on the road
• MINN: The Golden Gophers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games at home
• UNC vs. Minnesota picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why North Carolina can cover

The Tar Heels are expected to play two quarterbacks against Minnesota on Thursday night. Game flow will dictate who stays in at QB, but both signal callers possess the tools needed to lead UNC to victory on the road. Max Johnson is a four-year veteran at quarterback at both LSU and Texas A&M with two years of eligibility remaining. He's appeared in 30 games, recording 22 starts while throwing for 5,852 yards and 47 touchdowns during his four-year collegiate career. In 2023, Johnson completed 62% of his passes for 1,452 yards and nine TDs while at Texas A&M.

The Tar Heels are also expected to play Conner Harrell at quarterback for the season opener. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Harrell appeared in five games while making his first career start against West Virginia in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. He played well against the Mountaineers, completing 22 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns while adding 75 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground. See which team to pick here .

Why Minnesota can cover

Head coach P.J. Fleck is entering his seventh season with the Golden Gophers, and he'll turn to quarterback Max Brosmer to lead his offense in 2024. Brosmer is entering his sixth season of college football after transferring from New Hampshire to fill a pressing need for a team coming off a 6-7 season. Brosmer ranked first in the FCS in passing yards per game (314.9) last season, while also ranking second in passing yards (3,464) and passing touchdowns (29).

Brosmer will play alongside several talented wide receivers, including Daniel Jackson , a second team All-Big Ten selection in 2023. Last season, Jackson finished with 59 receptions for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 14.1 yards per reception and will be Brosmer's go-to target in critical situations. See which team to pick here .

How to make Minnesota vs. UNC picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 57 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine .

So who wins North Carolina vs. Minnesota, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced computer simulation model that's up well over $2,000 on its college football picks since inception , and find out.