North Carolina - 18.5 (-110)
The rematch is set for the Mountaineers & Tar Heels in Chapel Hill after North Carolinas close-call in last years matchup @ Appalachian St where they edged out a 63-61 victory. That said, you take out the 4th qtr where the Mountaineers roared back into the game with 40 pts and they Tarheels win easily away from home. I understand this is a game of all 60 minutes but I also understand App St is not going to put up 40 again in the final stretch (or 20 for that matter, they reached the 20 pt mark in a single quarter just 4 times all last season against all competition).
North Carolina has a budding star in QB Drake Maye while 1st year starter Joey Aquilar will continue to work to get his feet under him. He's going to need to keep his feet under him, he was sacked twice last week against Gardner-Webb (who?) and now he faces a Tar Heel defensive front that got to Spencer Rattler 9 times last week! 9!
The Mountaineers also lacked the ability to convert on 3rd down while UNC defended it well in week 1:
App St 3D Conversion
4/13 (30.8%)
UNC 3D Conversion Against
4/14 (28.6%)
On the other end, UNC was great on 3rd down last week while while App St struggled to defend it:
UNC 3D Conversion
8/13 (61.5%)
App Sr 3D Conversion Against
8/18 (44.4%)
The Tar Heels should take care of business easily in their home-opener to cover the 18.5 and avenge last years 4th quarter.
Go Tar Heels!
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