North Carolina at Syracuse College Football Picks & Predictions 10/20/2018

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Carrier Dome

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The North Carolina Tar Heels travel to Carrier Dome to take on the Syracuse Orange on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has Syracuse as 11 point favorites. The Tar Heels have an ATS record of 2-2-1 while their over/under record is 3-2-0. The Orange have an over/under record of 3-3-0 and they are 4-1-1 against the spread.

Valuable North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 3-2-0 against the over/under

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 2-2-1 against the spread

Important Syracuse Orange Betting Trends

The Syracuse Orange are 3-3-0 against the over/under

The Syracuse Orange are 4-1-1 against the spread

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

10/14/18 QB Cade Fortin Leg left last game, is questionable Saturday vs Syracuse
10/14/18 DT Jalen Dalton Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Syracuse
10/14/18 DL Tyrone Hopper Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Syracuse
10/10/18 QB Chazz Surratt Wrist is out for season

Key Syracuse Orange Injuries

10/14/18 WR Devin Butler Disciplinary is questionable Saturday vs North Carolina
10/14/18 DB Devon Clarke Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs North Carolina
10/14/18 TE Gabe Horan Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs North Carolina
10/14/18 DE Jake Pickard Knee is questionable Saturday vs North Carolina
10/14/18 LB Lakiem Williams Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs North Carolina
10/14/18 TE Ravian Pierce Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs North Carolina
10/01/18 LS Matt Keller Ankle is out for season
09/20/18 WR Ed Hendrix Lower Body is out for season
08/30/18 DL Zach Morton Knee is out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 128th in Division 1 in points scored with 103. They have run 361 plays this season for 2,033 yards, which ranks them 109th in the nation in total offense. The Tar Heels average 5.6 yards per play, which is 76th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 105 1st downs this year, placing them 119th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground North Carolina has run for 948 yards as a team, which ranks 95th in the country. They've run 181 times, averaging 5.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Tar Heels have been penalized on offense 36 times for 309 yards so far this season, which has them 86th in the nation in penalties. Nathan Elliott has thrown for 920 yards this season. He has completed 86 passes on 144 attempts for a completion percentage of 59.7%. His quarterback rating this year is 117. He averages 6.4 yards per pass attempt and 5.7 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

North Carolina is 70th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 169. They have surrendered a total of 1,920 yards on D, which is 20th in Division 1. The Tar Heels are ranked 59th in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Opposing offenses have completed 82 passes on 146 attempts against the North Carolina Tar Heels defense this season, placing them 5th and 6th in the country. The North Carolina pass defense has also given up a total of 929 yards through the air, which is 8th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 209 attempts for 991 yards this year, putting them in 66th place in D-1 against the run. The Tar Heels have committed 29 penalties for 244 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 13th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

North Carolina is ranked 42nd in the nation in punt returns with 12. They've accumulated 95 punt return yards and average 7.9 yards per return, which is 78th in college football. They have returned 10 kicks for 218 yards on special teams, ranking 94th in kick return yardage. The Tar Heels average 22 yards per kick return and they are 120th in the country in all-purpose yards with 2,346. The North Carolina Tar Heels have attempted 15 field goals this season and made 11, which is 15th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 73%. North Carolina Tar Heels kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 10 for 10 this year. Their punters have totaled 855 yards on 20 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That places them 41st in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Orange have run for 1,362 yards as a team, which ranks 34th in the nation. They've run 274 times, averaging 5 yards per rush as a unit. The Orange have been penalized on offense 39 times for 283 yards so far this year, which has them 76th in the country in penalties. They are 20th in Division 1 in points scored with 258. They have run 481 plays this year for 2,788 yards, which ranks them 78th in the nation in total offense. The Syracuse Orange average 5.8 yards per play, which is 68th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 135 1st downs this season, ranking them 68th overall as an offensive unit. Eric Dungey has completed 102 throws while attempting 172 passes for a completion percentage of 59.3%. He has passed for 1,208 yards this year. He averages 7.1 adjusted yards per throw and 7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 132.8.

Defensive Statistics

The Syracuse Orange rush defense has given up 231 attempts for 1,081 yards this season, putting them in 81st place in the country against the run. They have had 39 penalties for 280 yards on defense this year. That places them 26th in Division 1. Syracuse is 53rd in college football in points surrendered on defense with 151. They have given up a total of 2,415 yards on D, which is 67th in the nation. The Orange are 87th in yards per play allowed with 5.8. Opponent offenses have completed 101 throws on 184 attempts against the Syracuse defense this season, ranking them 34th and 46th in the country. The Syracuse Orange pass defense has also surrendered a total of 1,334 yards in the air, which is 53rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Syracuse Orange have tried 17 field goals this year and made 16, which is 2nd in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 94%. Syracuse kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 30 for 30 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,265 yards on 28 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That ranks them 14th in the NCAA in punting average. Syracuse is 45th in the country in punt returns with 12. They've totaled 234 punt return yards and average 19.5 yards per return, which is 11th in D-1. They have returned 13 kicks for 253 yards on special teams, which puts them 79th in kick return yardage. The Orange average 20 yards per kick return and they are 43rd in the nation in all-purpose yards with 3,275.

Who will win tonight's Tar Heels/Orange college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Tar Heels +11

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