The Minnesota Golden Gophers will host the North Carolina Tar Heels on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Golden Gophers are underdogs, but by less than a field goal (+1.5), against the Tar Heels (with an over/under of 51.5 points).
Keep reading for our betting preview for this season, and discover all of our expert predictions here, too!
To Cover the Spread
Bet $20, Payout $37.39
North Carolina -1.5 vs. Minnesota
North Carolina vs. Minnesota Betting Odds
- Spread favorite: Tar Heels (-1.5)
- Moneyline: Tar Heels (-127), Golden Gophers (+107)
- Total: 51.5 points
- TV Channel: FOX
- Live Stream: Fubo (Watch for free)
North Carolina vs. Minnesota Betting Stats and Info
- North Carolina put together a 6-7-0 ATS record last year.
- When playing as at least 1.5-point favorites last season, North Carolina had an ATS record of 6-5.
- Last season, six North Carolina games hit the over.
- Minnesota covered four times in 13 chances against the spread last year.
- Minnesota covered the spread once last season (1-4 ATS) when playing as at least 1.5-point underdogs.
- Minnesota and its opponent combined to hit the over six out of 13 times last year.
North Carolina vs. Minnesota Key Players
North Carolina Tar Heels
- Drake Maye recorded 3,608 passing yards (277.5 per game) with a 63.3% completion percentage last season, while throwing for 24 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He also had 449 rushing yards on 112 carries and nine touchdowns.
- Omarion Hampton took 253 carries for 1,504 rushing yards a season ago (115.7 per game) and scored 15 touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 222 yards and one TD.
- Last year J.J. Jones reeled in 46 passes for 711 yards (54.7 per game) with three touchdowns.
- Devontez Walker also tacked on 41 grabs for 699 yards and seven touchdowns.
- Bryson Nesbit caught 41 passes on 62 targets for 585 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 45.0 yards per game.
- Kaimon Rucker put together an impressive stat line of 8.5 sacks, 12.0 TFL and 60 tackles last year.
- Cedric Gray’s 2023 campaign saw him total 120 tackles, 6.0 TFL, five sacks, and one interception.
- Alijah Huzzie intercepted three passes and tacked on 41 tackles, 1.0 TFL, and three passes defended last season.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Athan Kaliakmanis recorded 1,838 passing yards (141.4 per game) with a 53.1% completion percentage last season (156-for-294), throwing for 14 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
- Darius Taylor rushed for 799 yards on 138 attempts (61.5 yards per game) and scored five touchdowns a season ago.
- Last season Jordan Nubin ran for 559 yards on 127 carries (43.0 yards per game), with three rushing touchdowns.
- Daniel Jackson grabbed 59 passes for 831 yards last season with eight touchdowns. He was targeted 118 times, and averaged 63.9 yards per game.
- Corey Crooms also contributed with 376 yards on 28 catches. He was targeted 56 times, and averaged 28.9 receiving yards last year.
- Brevyn Spann-Ford collected 239 yards on 25 catches with two touchdowns in 2023.
- Jah Joyner put together an impressive stat line of 7.5 sacks, 5.0 TFL and 17 tackles.
- Jack Henderson’s 2023 campaign saw him total 53 tackles, 5.0 TFL, one sack, and two interceptions.
- Tyler Nubin intercepted five passes and tacked on 38 tackles, one sack, and five passes defended last season.