Syracuse Orange vs North Carolina Tar Heels Prediction, 10/7/2023 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Syracuse Orange vs North Carolina Tar Heels

Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023

Location: Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Tar Heels (-6)

Total/Over-Under: 58

The Syracuse Orange (4-1) are en route to Kenan Stadium on Saturday, October 7, 2023 where they will play the North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0). North Carolina opens as 6-point favorites from oddsmakers. The total comes in at 58.

The Syracuse Orange come into this game with a record of 4-1 for this year. In their last game, the Orange played against the Clemson Tigers and ended up losing by a score of 31-14. Garrett Shrader went 15/29 with 181 yds through the air and 2 TDs. He had a QB rating of 120 and ended the contest with 1 interception. LeQuint Allen was the best rusher for the Orange with 14 carries for 52 yds (3.7 yards per carry). On the day, they tallied 65 plays for 286 yds. The Syracuse Orange ended up rushing 34 different times and compiled 100 yards, which had them averaging 2.9 yds per carry. On the ground, the Orange conceded 126 yards on 35 tries, which averages out to 3.6 yards per run surrendered. Syracuse relinquished 23 pass completions on 37 attempts for a total of 263 yards, and a completion rate of 62.2%.

The Orange currently have 2,317 yards in total for this campaign. In terms of getting in the endzone, Syracuse has totaled 11 touchdowns via the pass and 12 touchdowns via the ground. They have turned the football over 8 times. Syracuse has accrued 122 first downs, and they have been flagged for 40 infractions for 394 yards. Offensively they're averaging 190.6 yards rushing ranking them 37th in the country. When talking about putting the ball in the endzone, the Syracuse Orange hold an average of 38.2 points per game.

The Orange are sitting in 18th in the country regarding the opposition scoring, allowing 14.8 points per game. They are allowing 2.7 yards per rush and 96.4 rushing yards per contest for the campaign. Over the course of this year, they have conceded 482 rushing yards through 5 contests. Regarding passing yards, the Orange are conceding 1,004 yards which ranks them 46th in Division 1. They have given up 200.8 yards per contest through the air and allowed a completion percentage of 60.2%. Over the course of this year, they are allowing 297.2 yards/game which puts them 20th in the country. They have yielded 4 touchdowns by air and 6 touchdowns pounding the rock.

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The Tar Heels come into this matchup with a record of 4-0 for this season. For their last game, the Tar Heels got the victory with a final of 41-24 when they faced the Pittsburgh Panthers. Omarion Hampton carried the ball 18 times for 66 yds, ending the game with 3.7 yards per attempt for North Carolina. Drake Maye (1 touchdown) ended the contest with 296 yds on 22/30 through the air while his QB rate was 167.2. He didn't toss any interceptions and his Y/A was 9.9. North Carolina conceded 27 rush attempts for 110 yds (4.1 yards per rush). The Tar Heels passing defense gave up a completion rate of 54.5%, relinquishing 194 yds on 18 for 33 through the air. The Tar Heels ended up finishing with 373 yards while running 69 plays (5.4 yards per play). North Carolina rushed the football for 2.0 yards per tote, finishing with a total of 77 yds on 39 attempts.

When it comes to their ability to score points, the Tar Heels are ranking 34th in the nation by tallying 35.8 points per game. The North Carolina Tar Heels maintain an average of 464.0 yards per contest, which has them sitting 24th in the nation. The North Carolina offense has compiled 185 yards of penalties on 20 infractions, which ranks them 120th in college football in terms of helping out the other team. They have tossed 4 interceptions while allowing opponents to recover 0 fumbles and they have earned 96 1st downs. Over the course of the season so far, the Tar Heels have earned 1,187 passing yards as well as holding an average of 296.8 passing yards per outing, putting them at 20th in college football. They are averaging 167.3 yards per game on the ground and have run for 669 yards for the season.

North Carolina has given up a total of 497 yards rushing (124.3 yards/game) in addition to 7 touchdowns on the ground this year. They have surrendered 2 touchdowns through the air and 238.8 yards/game, which puts them in 86th in the nation. They have tallied 1 fumble and 5 interceptions over the course of the season. The Tar Heels defense has taken part in 278 plays, which is good for 18th in the nation. The Tar Heels are allowing 22.0 points per game, which has them 46th in Division 1. This year, they have given up 88 total points.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Tar Heels -6

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