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One of the best quarterbacks in college football will be featured when Garrett Shrader and the Syracuse Orange (4-1) visit the North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0) on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
The Orange are expected to lose (currently +9.5) against the Tar Heels (with an over/under of 59.5 points).
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Game Info for North Carolina vs. Syracuse
- Game Day: Saturday, October 7, 2023
- Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Stadium: Kenan Memorial Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | -9.5 | -111 | -108 | 59.5 | -110 | -110 | -384 | +296 |
North Carolina Pick Insights
- So far this season, North Carolina has compiled a 3-1-0 record against the spread.
- North Carolina is winless against the spread (0-1) when playing as at least 9.5-point favorites.
- Two of North Carolina’s four games with a set total have hit the over (50%).
North Carolina Stats & Insights
- North Carolina owns the 64th-ranked defense this season (363 yards allowed per game), and has been better offensively, ranking 23rd-best with a tally of 464 yards per game.
- North Carolina ranks 32nd in scoring offense (35.8 points per game) and 46th in scoring defense (22 points allowed per game) this year.
- North Carolina sports the 83rd-ranked defense this year in terms of passing yards (238.8 allowed per game), and has been more effective on offense, ranking 20th-best with 296.8 passing yards per game.
- North Carolina is putting up 167.3 rushing yards per game on offense, which ranks them 56th in the FBS. The team’s defensive unit ranks 54th, giving up 124.3 rushing yards per game.
- North Carolina ranks 52nd in third-down defense this year (35.8% third-down conversion rate allowed), but has been thriving on the offensive side of the ball, ranking second-best in the FBS with a 57.9% third-down percentage.
- North Carolina ranks 47th in college football with a +1 turnover margin after forcing 5 turnovers (99th in the FBS) while committing four (18th in the FBS).
North Carolina’s Best Players
- Drake Maye has 1,187 pass yards for North Carolina, completing 72.7% of his passes and throwing five touchdowns and four interceptions this season. He’s also contributed on the ground with 119 rushing yards (29.8 ypg) on 38 carries with three rushing touchdowns.
- Omarion Hampton has carried the ball 73 times for a team-high 383 yards on the ground and has found the end zone seven times as a runner.
- British Brooks has been handed the ball 34 times this year and racked up 140 yards (35 per game) with one touchdown.
- J.J. Jones’ leads his squad with 296 yards as a receiver. He’s racked up that yardage on 16 receptions (out of 21 targets).
- Nate McCollum has caught 21 passes while averaging 55 yards per game and scoring one touchdown.
- Kobe Paysour has been the target of 24 passes and hauled in 19 receptions for 182 yards, an average of 45.5 yards per contest. He’s found the end zone two times through the air this season.
- Kaimon Rucker has racked up four sacks to lead the team, while also picking up seven TFL and 17 tackles.
- North Carolina’s leading tackler, Cedric Gray, has 33 tackles, two TFL, and 1.5 sacks this year.
- Alijah Huzzie leads the team with two interceptions, while also putting up 16 tackles, one TFL, and two passes defended.
Syracuse Betting Insights
- Syracuse has covered the spread twice in four opportunities this year.
- None of Syracuse’s four games with a set total this season have gone over the total.
Syracuse Pick Insights
- Syracuse has been top-25 on both offense and defense this season, as it ranks 24th-best in total yards per game (463.4) and 18th-best in total yards surrendered per game (297.2).
- Syracuse has been a top-25 unit on both offense and defense this season, as it ranks 17th-best in points per game (38.2) and 18th-best in points surrendered per game (14.8).
- With 272.8 passing yards per game on offense, Syracuse ranks 38th in the FBS. On defense, it ranks 39th, giving up 200.8 passing yards per game.
- Syracuse ranks 37th in the FBS with 190.6 rushing yards per game, but it has been led by its defense, which ranks 22nd-best by allowing only 96.4 rushing yards per contest.
- Syracuse’s third-down offense has been thriving, posting a 51.4% third-down conversion rate (10th-best) this season. Defensively, it ranks 52nd by allowing a 35.8% third-down rate.
- With 11 forced turnovers (ninth in the FBS) and eight turnovers committed (82nd in the FBS) this season, Syracuse ranks 26th in the FBS with a turnover margin of +3.
Syracuse’s Best Players
- Shrader has been a dual threat for Syracuse this season. He has 1,153 passing yards (230.6 per game) while completing 63.5% of his passes. He’s thrown eight touchdown passes and four interceptions this season. On the ground, he’s compiled 340 yards (68 ypg) on 61 carries with six rushing touchdowns.
- The team’s top rusher, LeQuint Allen, has carried the ball 75 times for 363 yards (72.6 per game) with six touchdowns. He’s also caught 17 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown.
- Damien Alford has hauled in 282 receiving yards on 18 receptions to pace his team so far this season while scoring one touchdown as a receiver.
- Donovan Brown has racked up 273 receiving yards (54.6 yards per game) and one touchdown on 19 receptions.
- Umari Hatcher’s 13 receptions (on 29 targets) have netted him 225 yards (45 ypg) and two touchdowns.
- Leon Lowery has 2.5 sacks to pace the team, and also has three TFL and 12 tackles.
- Marlowe Wax, Syracuse’s top tackler, has 29 tackles, three TFL, and two sacks this year.
- Justin Barron has a team-high two interceptions to go along with 23 tackles, one TFL, and two passes defended.
