The No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels open their season on the road in Blacksburg this coming Friday, as they go up against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the North Carolina Tar Heels vs Virginia Tech Hokies NCAA Week 1 College Football Game on September 3, 2021
Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg
When: Friday, September 3, 2021, 6:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (-5.5) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (+5.5) – view all 2020 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels (-5.5)
Record: 0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference
There are two words that you need to know about why the Tar Heels are a force to reckon with this season: Sam Howell. Oh wait, it could also be: Mack Brown. Either way, both guys put North Carolina in a good place. Howell is arguably the best quarterback in the nation right now, while Brown has done an admirable job for North Carolina, especially over the last two years which saw the Tar Heels make back-to-back bowl game appearances. With Howell back, the Tar Heels can expect to sustain their offense that averaged 41.0 points per game and 300.7 passing yards per contest in 2020. When the Tar Heels defeated Virginia Tech at home last season, 56-45, Howell tossed three touchdowns, while the backfield came up with five rushing touchdowns.
The over is 8-2 in North Carolina’s last 10 games overall.
Betting on the Virginia Tech Hokies (+5.5)
Record: 0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference
Sure, the Tar Heels have Sam Howell, but North Carolina is also now missing plenty of the weapons downfield that he had in 2020. In other words, this offense by the Tar Heels might not be as strong as many people paint it to be. Virginia Tech lost over the offseason quarterback Hendon Hooker, but it has someone ready to step up and break out in under center in Braxton Burmeister. Last season, Burmeister passed for 687 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and a 57.1 completion percentage. It should help Burmeister that the team’s top two receivers last season in Tayvion Robinson and Tre Turner, Jr. On defense, linebacker Amare Barno is back for his senior season to act as the anchor of the team’s pass rush. Barno had 6.5 sacks last season, tied for eighth in the ACC.
Virginia Tech is 5-3 against the spread in its last eight games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
North Carolina wins, 32-27.
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