A couple of schools that prefer to keep it on the ground, Head Coach Larry Fedora and the North Carolina Tar Heels (+10) are set to face off against their conference foe Syracuse Orange (-10) at the Carrier Dome. CHSS will broadcast the action and the game’s scheduled to get going at 12:20 p.m. ET.
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Syracuse Orange Betting Preview
In this Saturday Atlantic Coast game, Syracuse is projected as the heavy favorite and the team’s currently giving up 10 points. If they want to play the moneyline, bettors would currently have to wager $400 in order to win $100 back on the Orange (-400). The Tar Heels are getting +300 moneyline odds. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 64 points. Some solid live betting scenarios should exist during this matchup.
The over/under hasn’t changed after it was initially established at 64. Having said that, the line opened at -12 and the early action has shifted to the Tar Heels.
The underwhelming Tar Heels have lost 10.1 units so far in 2018 and are 2-2-1 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-2. The Orange have gained 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-2 ATS and have an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Tar Heels have gone only 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.
Each team comes into this matchup having lost two in a row. The Heels are most-recently reeling from a thin 22-19 loss to Virginia Tech last week. 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 yards on 18 rush attempts) led the running attack in the loss while Dazz Newsome (five receptions, 53 yards) and Williams (three catches, 21 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Syracuse most-recently dropped a 44-37 game to Pittsburgh two weeks ago. The team’s defensive unit let the Panthers rush for 265 yards on 47 attempts, including three rush TDs. Qadree Ollison was on a different level for Pittsburgh, putting up 192 rushing yards and a score on 24 attempts. 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 ground game in the defeat while Sean Riley (six receptions, 29 yards) and Taj Harris (four catches, 64 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
North Carolina’s run the ball on 50.1 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 53.9 percent across possessions in conference play. Syracuse has a 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 rushed for 190 yards/game (including 208 per game against Atlantic Coast opponents) and have six touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Orange are putting up 225 rush yards per game (153 in conference) and have 17 total rushing TDs.
The Heels offensive scheme has averaged 217 yards through the air overall (238 per game against conference opposition) and has four passing scores so far. The Orange have produced 238 pass yards per game (221.3 against ACC competition) and have 11 total pass TDs.
North Carolina seems to have an edge when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 198 yards and pass for 186 yards per game. The Syracuse defense has allowed 222.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 180.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Orange are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.56 to opponents, while the Tar Heels have given up a 5.16 ANY/A.
Offensively, Elliott is up to 816 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 70-of-119 attempts with four passing scores and four interceptions. Elliott’s got a 5.79 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.21 over the last two games.
Eric Dungey has completed 76-of-129 passes for 958 yards, 10 TDs and three INTs for Syracuse. His ANY/A stands at 7.39 for the year and 3.82 over his last two games.
These two conference foes did not get a chance to face one another in 2017.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: North Carolina Tar Heels at Syracuse Orange
SU Winner – North Carolina, ATS Winner – North Carolina, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Syracuse D has notched 20 sacks on the year while North Carolina has 15.
The Syracuse offense has lost three fumbles this season while North Carolina has lost six.
Each team has produced four pass plays of 40+ 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 or more 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+ yards, while the Orange have given up 16 such runs.
North Carolina has produced 5.3 yards per carry over its last three contests 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.
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