Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-0)
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs North Carolina Tar Heels 9/16/23 – Minnesota Golden Gophers and North Carolina Tar Heels each enter Week 3 with undefeated records, setting up what should be an exciting showdown on September 16, 2023 at Kenan Stadium at 3:30 PM ET and broadcast on ESPN.
The Golden Gophers have enjoyed successful play with Darius Taylor at running back. Taylor averages 5.8 yards per carry on 34 attempts, gaining 196 rushing yards and one touchdown while relieving pressure from quarterback Marcus Arnett. Meanwhile, Daniel Jackson is proving a reliable target with 11 receptions totalling 110 yards and one score.
On the Tar Heels side of the field, Omarion Hampton leads their ground attack and has become a prolific touchdown scorer with five rushing touchdowns from 42 attempts and 271 yards on 42 attempts. Kobe Paysour also plays an instrumental role, tallying 15 receptions for 139 receiving yards along with one touchdown reception. If you’re looking for the free accurate college football picks, consider their matchups carefully.
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Game Info
| When: | Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 3:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Kenan Stadium |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Athan Kaliakmanis QB vs. Drake Maye QB
Athan Kaliakmanis, quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, shows promise and is in an early developmental stage. To date he has completed 34 of 59 passing attempts resulting in a completion rate of 57.6% and amassing 313 passing yards. Though his 1:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer rating of 101 suggest growth potential for Kaliakmanis, these statistics don’t tell the whole story. His offensive line has struggled, leading to four sacks for 13 yards lost; as such, Kaliakmanis must make smart choices even under duress to increase Minnesota’s chances of victory significantly.
Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels has established himself as an outstanding and efficient quarterback this season, boasting an outstanding 72.6% completion rate out of 62 attempts with 45 completed touchdown passes and 477 passing yards total. His stats speak for themselves! Maye has posted an impressive 2:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer rating of 141.4, showing good decision-making skills as well as effective execution. Though sacked twice for losses of 11 yards, his numbers point toward an intelligent quarterback making sound decisions and performing admirably on the field. Maye has shown his ability to make big plays through his high completion rate and increased yards-per-attempt rate, suggesting he is capable of breaking open Minnesota’s defense. Remaining accurate while making effective downfield plays will be essential in determining the outcome of this exciting matchup.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: North Carolina -275, Total Odds: 50
Betting odds show North Carolina holding an edge with a -275 Moneyline and 7.5 point spread, totalling 50 points in this matchup. Given both teams’ recent performance, betting on North Carolina covering the spread may be viable option; however, Minnesota could prove an underdog pick to watch out for.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends
Betting trends show the Minnesota Golden Gophers to be unreliable against the spread (ATS), showcasing an 1-4 record over their last five games. Yet they have managed a solid 7-1 straight-up (SU) mark during that same span; an even more remarkable 14-6 mark for road games; when playing on Saturdays specifically, their total has gone under in five of those six matches; though this total has exceeded four times in their five underdog matchups.
North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends
North Carolina has struggled ATS over their last six games, posting a 2-4 record and going 4-4 against the spread (ATS), yet their overall record stands out as 11-5 SU from their 16 matches and 15-5 in home games – with 5 of 6 Saturday games going under but 6 of 9 going over on home Saturdays!
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels 9/16/23 Betting Picks
Due to statistics, player matchups, and betting trends, North Carolina appears to have an edge in this game. Their improved offensive performance suggests they could cover the 7.5-point spread while their home record has been particularly impressive: 15-5 straight up (SU) standing over their last 20 home games may give them the home field advantage needed to claim victory and cover the spread. But one can never count out Minnesota with their 7-1 straight-up record over their last eight games as well as 14-6 straight-up SU record on the road (14-6 SU in 20 road games), making them a tempting underdog pick at +230 Moneyline.
As far as over/under is concerned, both teams have recently displayed an affinity for keeping total score under when playing on Saturdays; however, when North Carolina hosts on a Saturday, this tendency shifts towards over. Given this dichotomy of tendencies, this category can be difficult to predict; if you prefer taking the safer path however, an under 50 option seems like it could be appropriate given both teams’ recent performances; both defenses have shown ability and shouldn’t be discounted as an option – thus leading to less total points scored per game than an over 50 bet would make more sense in terms of making bets on what would otherwise happen! For more insights and potential betting opportunities, you can also explore some free expert sports picks.
Free Pick and Prediction: North Carolina 28, Minnesota 21.