North Carolina has high hopes, but they have little room for error. That makes their opening game against Virginia Tech a must-win. It will be a challenge to start your season on the road against an in-conference opponent. Let’s check the NCAAF odds for this matchup!
Friday, September 03, 2021 – 06:00 PM EDT at Lane Stadium
UNC is known as a basketball power, but coach Mack Brown has changed the narrative of North Carolina football. He has done more than built a strong team. He has developed a program in Chapel Hill. He has a first-round quarterback prospect, and the Tar Heels look to be a dark horse in the ACC.
Virginia Tech struggled to field a team last season, and that is why they had a losing record. Now that they bring back their fans, they have a chance to surprise people in the ACC Coastal. To do so, they will have to replace starting quarterback Hendon Hooker and their starting running back.
Despite being on the road, UNC is favored by 5 points. Is that a fair spread? Here are keys for each team and a prediction for the season opener.
The Tar Heels are favored for a reason, but not everything is a lock for 2021. Returning Sam Howell is crucial, and he is expected to live up to the standard. The real question for North Carolina’s offense is the run game. The Tar Heels had the best running back tandem in the ACC last year, but both players got drafted in the NFL. They combined for over 2300 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground. Howell isn’t known for using his legs, so someone will have to step up to keep the offense balanced.
Expect Tennessee to transfer Ty Chandler to be the starter in the backfield. He won’t reach the levels of Williams and Carter, but he has over 2000 career rushing yards and is a receiving threat.
On defense, UNC returns 10 starters. They have the size and experience necessary to smother opponents, but someone will have to fill the shoes of Chazz Surratt. Surratt was North Carolina’s leading tackler, and he also had six sacks and a pick. He made a lot of things easier for UNC, so he will be a tough player to replace.
There is one X-factor that Virginia Tech missed in 2020. They could not pack their stadium, which hurt their ability to dictate the tempo and atmosphere at home. The Hokies have one of the best home-court advantages in college football, and they missed that in 2020.
Fans will be back in the stands, and they will be loud on Friday night. Going against a top-10 team, you have to expect fans to be a factor.
In terms of the product on the field, Virginia Tech has to hope that Braxton Burmeister is the guy under center. He had some experience last year, but he only scored four total touchdowns. He’s less of a running threat than Hooker, and Virginia Tech is already losing their starting running back. If Raheem Blackshear and Burmeister can carry the offense, this could be a slugfest. If not, the Hokies don’t have enough to keep up.
The good news is that Virginia Tech has a solid defensive line, and they should dominate the trenches. If this can end some drives, the Hokies have a shot to cover.
The Tar Heels have a better quarterback, and they are looking for him to lead the offense. That will help mask their issues in the run game, and it should be enough to get UNC the win. In terms of the spread, expect UNC to cover at the end of the game. They need style points if they want to make it through the regular season and still have a shot at making the College Football Playoff, and that starts here.
The Hokies are great at home, and the crowd will be loud. Still, the Tar Heels have a superior roster and coach. Brown will have North Carolina ready, and they should win this game by at least a touchdown.
NCAAF Pick: North Carolina -5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.