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North Carolina vs Minnesota Prediction, Game Preview, Betting Lines
By Pete Fiutak,
2024-08-18
North Carolina rolled over Minnesota 31-13 last season when Drake Maye and the Tar Heel offense stepped up and the Gopher attack struggled to get moving.
Things might be a whole lot different this season.
The Golden Gophers have a better-looking offense, the Tar Heels need some help on defense, and this should be a better battle.
This should be the biggest and most important game on the first Thursday night of the college football season.
Sep 16, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) with the ball as Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Darius Green (12) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
North Carolina vs Minnesota How to Watch Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024 Game Time: 8:00 pm ET Venue: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN How to Watch: FOX 2023 Records: Minnesota (0-0), North Carolina (0-0) - Week 1 Thursday Schedule, Predictions
Why North Carolina Will Win
The North Carolina offense might not have Drake Maye around, but it’ll still be terrific.
The receiving corps is loaded with speedy weapons, Texas A&M and LSU transfer Max Johnson is a good veteran who can step in and shine at quarterback, and Omarion Hampton might be the nation’s best running back.
The Gopher defense should be okay, but it still has to prove it can hold up against a decent ground game. Last year Minnesota was 0-7 when allowing 24 points or more. North Carolina shouldn’t have a problem averaging that this season, but …
Why Minnesota Will Win
Again, this is a different Golden Gopher team, and it starts with the passing attack.
Last year Minnesota couldn’t do anything through the air against the Tar Heels - who weren’t exactly the 2000 Baltimore Ravens on defense.
How bad was it? Athan Kaliakmanis completed 11-of-29 passes for 133 yards and a pick - now he’s at Rutgers.
In comes Max Brosmer, a dangerous playmaker from New Hampshire who threw for over 8.700 yards with 70 scores.
He has good receivers to work with, a nice rotation of backs to take the heat off, and this time around the secondary almost certainly won’t give up over 400 passing yards.
Also …
North Carolina vs Minnesota: Who Will Win
Last year North Carolina dominated the time of possession battle. Maye was brilliant on third downs and the Gophers seemingly never had the ball.
That’s not how Minnesota normally rolls under PJ Fleck.
At home in front of a national audience, the Big Ten team will look the part with more blasting from the offensive front and more control to keep the Tar Heel offense off the field.
Flip the possession time, expect more of a balanced offense from the Gophers, and Minnesota will get its revenge.
North Carolina vs Minnesota Prediction, Betting Lines
Minnesota 27, North Carolina 24 Line: Minnesota -2.5, o/u: 50.5 ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5 North Carolina vs Minnesota Must See Rating: 3
remember UNC still has people on the team with drug charges, failure to appear for drug charges and at least one player who was involved in the death of a female UNC student. The coach doesn't give a Fuck about it!!!
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