Miami is a 14-point favorite over North Carolina in Week 9
The undefeated Hurricanes host a Heels team that has matched its win total from last year but lost to Syracuse in overtime.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
The No. 1 ranked Miami Hurricanes face the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. This matchup marks the first time head coach Bill Belichick has faced the top ranked team in his college career.
Miami enters the contest with a 7-0 record, including a 5-0 mark in the ACC. The Hurricanes are one of three undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They secured their 11th consecutive regular season victory with a 53-23 win over Pitt. North Carolina is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Tar Heels have already equalled their total wins from the previous season. They suffered a 31-30 overtime loss to Syracuse on the previous Saturday.
Betting markets list Miami as 14-point favorites. The over/under for total points is set at 53.5. Miami has gone 5-2 against the spread this season. North Carolina stands at 4-3 versus the line. These teams have not met since 2023. North Carolina has won the last five head to head encounters.
A projection model from SportsLine simulated the game 10,000 times. The model predicts the under on the 53.5 point total. The model notes that Miami fields the No. 11 scoring defense in the nation. The Hurricanes allow just 2.4 yards per rush. They have recorded nine takeaways, equal to the number of passing touchdowns they have allowed.
North Carolina ranks 112th out of 138 FBS teams in total offense. The Tar Heels' strength lies in their defensive play. North Carolina has limited its last two opponents to under 60% completion percentage. The team averages the fourth fewest penalties per game in college football. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah averages over three passing touchdowns per game. The model projects he will be held to under two passing scores in this game.
The SportsLine model has recorded a 68-59 record on top rated college football picks. This performance has returned nearly $400 for players who bet $100. The model also indicates that one side of the spread hits in over 60% of the simulations.
Source: CBS Sports
