The North Carolina Tar Heels and the South Carolina Gamecocks open the regular season at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the North Carolina vs. South Carolina odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Tar Heels look to avenge a 38-21 setback on Dec. 30, 2021, in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against the Gamecocks. In fact, each of the past 3 meetings in this border state rivalry have been played in Charlotte since 2015, with the Gamecocks winning a regular-season meeting Sept. 3, 2015, and the bowl game. UNC won 24-20 on Aug. 31, 2019, in the opener that season.
North Carolina QB Drake Maye begins his 2nd season under center, and he looks to build upon his outstanding 2022 campaign which had some whispering about the Heisman Trophy. He completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,321 yards, 38 TDs and 7 INTs, while also running for 698 yards and 7 scores.
South Carolina has a pretty good field general, too. QB Spencer Rattler also completed 66.2% of his attempts for 3,026 yards, 18 TDs and 12 INTs, while being sacked 31 times. He isn’t nearly as much of a threat as Maye in the run game, although he did sneak into the end zone on 3 occasions, and his rushing numbers were dented by all of the sacks.
North Carolina is No. 20 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
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North Carolina vs. South Carolina odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 6:46 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): North Carolina -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | South Carolina +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Carolina -2.5 (-110) | South Carolina +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 64.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
North Carolina vs. South Carolina picks and predictions
Prediction
North Carolina 40, South Carolina 35
Moneyline
NORTH CAROLINA (-140) is worth playing in this revenge game, especially with Maye at the helm. While he’ll have to make his way into the 2023 season without last season’s leading receiver, WR Josh Downs, the cupboard is anything but bare in Chapel Hill, as far as skill position players are concerned.
Unfortunately for Maye, WR Tez Walker, who transferred in from Kent State, will not play Saturday, as UNC awaits an NCAA ruling on his eligibility for 2023.
Still, Maye will do enough with his arm, and his feet, to be the difference maker in this game. I like Rattler, but his offensive line is a concern for me.
Against the spread
NORTH CAROLINA -2.5 (-110) is the lean, especially if it remains under a flat 3. I would have liked to see more firepower with Walker as a downfield threat, but even without the pass catcher, I think the Heels have more than enough on offense to win a high-scoring game.
Over/Under
OVER 64.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board.
UNC wasn’t exactly efficient on defense, and the offense was forced into several high-scoring games, especially early in the 2022 campaign. Remember that insane 63-61 win at Appalachian State last September? The Heels scored 31 or more points in 9 of their 1st 10 games last season, and there is no reason to believe it won’t be all gas and no brakes again in 2023.
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