North Carolina vs. Minnesota prediction, picks, spread, football odds, where to watch, TV channel, live stream
A year after losing 31-13 at North Carolina, Minnesota gets a chance at redemption when the Gophers host UNC in the only game between power-conference teams on Thursday night. The Tar Heels enter the 2024 season as slight favorites in a battle between teams that feature some unknowns at quarterback.
UNC has benefited from two NFL draft pick quarterbacks in the first five seasons of coach Mack Brown’s second stint at the school. But after Drake May moved on to the New England Patriots, the Tar Heels will have to find his replacement. Brown has yet to make a commitment about who is the front-runner between Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson and sophomore Connor Harrell.
Minnesota knows who its quarterback will be – New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer — but doesn’t know for sure how his game will translate to the FBS level. Brosmer has excelled in his five seasons of FCS football, but faces a major challenge in reinvigorating the Gophers’ offense, which ranked 122nd nationally in total offense last season.
While the quarterbacks will be new, a pair of star running backs are returning to strengthen each team. Read below for more analysis and predictions on North Carolina vs. Minnesota.
North Carolina vs. Minnesota: Things to know
Backfield Stars: The return of Minnesota running back Darius Taylor will be a huge boost for the Gophers, as he racked up 799 yards in just six games while battling injuries last season. Just a sophomore, Taylor is poised to have a stellar season after ranking as a three-star prospect in the class of 2023. UNC returns a great back of its own in Omarion Hampton in what should be an intriguing matchup between two of the country’s best runners. Hampton is the nation’s No. 3 returning rusher after putting up 1,504 yards on the ground last season. He’s also a reliable dump-off target in the passing game.
Appointment of new coordinators: Both teams are adding new defensive coordinators, as Corey Hederman takes over at Minnesota and Geoff Collins at North Carolina. Collins, the former Georgia Tech coach, was away from the sideline last season. He replaces Gene Chizik, who struggled to unleash the unit’s talent the past two seasons. Hederman comes from Rutgers, where he served as linebackers coach the past two seasons. He helped the Scarlet Knights develop a reputation for stout defense during that time.
Last time out: When UNC did so in last year’s meeting it was behind 414 yards of passing from Maye, who hit Nate McCollum 15 times for 165 yards. Hampton rushed for 46 yards on 13 attempts, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry. This time around, the Tar Heels will need more from their run game as they have added a new quarterback. Minnesota will certainly need more from their passing game as the Gophers quarterback completed only 11 of 30 passes for 133 yards and no touchdowns and two interceptions in last year’s meeting.
How to watch the North Carolina vs Minnesota match live
date: Thursday, August 29 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Place: Huntington Bank Stadium – Minneapolis
TV: Fox | Live Stream: fubo (try it free)
North Carolina vs. Minnesota prediction, picks
Last year, North Carolina had a future first-round NFL draft pick at quarterback and both teams had already won two games. Yet they managed to score only 44 points. Now, both teams are adding new quarterbacks — the Tar Heels haven’t even named a starter yet — and they’ll rely on their run games to find their footing in the new season. Points should be at a premium. Select: Under 50.5
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