In a display of two schools that like to feature their running games, Coach Larry Fedora and the North Carolina Tar Heels (+10) are ready to take on their conference rival Syracuse Orange (-10) at the Carrier Dome. CHSS is scheduled to have the TV rights and this daytime game gets underway at 12:20 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Syracuse Orange
North Carolina is a live dog in this Saturday pairing and is currently getting 10 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to lay down $400 to win $100 back on the Orange (-400). The Tar Heels are getting +300 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 64 points, and if one program gets out in front early, it will likely create a decent in-game betting opportunity.
The total has not moved after being set initially at 64. Having said that, the opening line was -12 and sharp bettors have been siding with the Tar Heels.
The underwhelming Tar Heels are down 10.1 units so far and 2-2-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 3-2.
The Orange are up 1.0 unit this season. The team is 4-2 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Tar Heels are an ugly 1-4 straight up (SU), including 1-2 SU against ACC opponents. The Orange are 4-2 SU overall and 1-2 SU in conference play.
Both teams enter the contest on two-game losing streaks. The Heels will try to get back on track after a 22-19 defeat to Virginia Tech last week where the Tar Heels completed 22-of-35 passes for 287 yards and one touchdown. Cade Fortin went 10-for-18 for 97 yards while Nathan Elliott completed 11-of-15 for 147 yards and one touchdown. Michael Carter (165 rushing yards on 18 attempts) spearheaded the ground attack while Dazz Newsome (five receptions, 53 yards) and Williams (three catches, 21 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Two weeks ago, Pittsburgh knocked off this Syracuse team by a score of 44-37. The Orange defense allowed the Panthers to run for 265 yards on 47 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Qadree Ollison was outstanding, putting up 192 rushing yards and a score on 24 attempts for the Panthers. For Syracuse, Eric Dungey completed 18-of-38 passes for 195 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Dungey (70 yards on 13 rush attempts, one TD) handled the running game as Sean Riley (six receptions, 29 yards) and Taj Harris (four catches, 64 yards) led all Syracuse pass-catchers in the loss.
North Carolina has run the ball on 50.1 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 53.9 percent across possessions in conference play. Syracuse has an overall rush percentage of 57.4 percent, and has kept it on the ground 53.2 percent of the time against ACC opponents. The Tar Heels have produced 189.6 rush yards/game (including 207.7 per game against Atlantic Coast opponents) and have six scores on the ground this year. The Orange are logging 225.0 rush yards per game (153.3 in conference) and have 17 total rushing TDs.
The Heels offense has logged 217.0 yards/game in the air overall (238.0 per game versus conference opposition) and has four passing TDs so far. The Orange have produced 237.7 pass yards per game (221 against ACC competition) and have 11 total pass scores.
North Carolina should hold the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents run for an average of 198.2 yards and pass for 185.8 yards per game. The Syracuse defense has given up 222.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 180.2 yards per game on the ground. The Orange are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.56 to opposing QBs, while the Tar Heels have allowed a 5.16 ANY/A.
Offensively, Elliott has amassed 816 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has completed 59 percent of his 119 attempts with four scores through the air and four interceptions. Elliott has a 5.79 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.21 over the last two outings.
Eric Dungey has managed to complete 76-of-129 passes for 958 yards, 10 TDs and three INTs for Syracuse. His ANY/A stands at 7.39 for the season and 3.82 across his past two outings.
These two conference adversaries did not get a chance to face one another in 2017.
North Carolina Tar Heels at Syracuse Orange Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Syracuse, ATS Winner: Syracuse, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Syracuse defense has sacked opposing QBs 20 times this season. North Carolina has registered 15 sacks.
- The Syracuse offense has lost three fumbles this season while the North Carolina offense has lost six.
- Each team has produced four pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Tar Heels have have made seven pass plays of 30+ yards while the Orange have created eight such plays.
- The North Carolina defense has allowed two pass plays of 40+ yards, while Syracuse has given up five such plays.
- The North Carolina offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Syracuse has created seven such runs.
- The Tar Heels defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Orange have given up 16 such runs.
- North Carolina has averaged 5.3 yards per rush attempt over its last three outings and 5.8 over its last two.
- Syracuse has averaged 5.1 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.5 over its past two.
