UConn Huskies vs North Carolina Tar Heels Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 12/28/2024

Game Time: 11:00 am ET, Saturday, December 28, 2024

Venue:  Fenway Park, Boston, MA

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  UConn +3, UNC -3; Over/Under:  52.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  UConn +3, UNC -3; Over/Under:  52.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  UConn +3, UNC -3; Over/Under:  52.5 points

UConn Huskies:  8-4 (0-0) (FBS Independent)

North Carolina Tar Heels:  6-6 (3-5) (11th place, ACC)

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UConn Huskies:  won their last game on the road against the UMass Minutemen 47-42.

North Carolina Tar Heels:  lost their last game at home against the North Carolina State Wolfpack 35-30.

UConn is entering this game with an 8-4 record overall and they have a 0-0 record in their conference games too. They are 6-1 in their home games, 2-3 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at a neutral site for this game. They won their last game against UMass 47-42. Joe Fagnano was the starting QB and he completed 15/26 passes for 181 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Camryn Edwards led the team in rushing yards with 142 and 1 TD. Louis Hansen led the receivers with 73 receiving yards on 4 receptions and 1 TD. Jayden McDonald led the defense in that game with 6 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles while Langston Hardy led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.

 

 

 

North Carolina is entering this game with a 6-6 record overall and they have a 3-5 record in their conference games too. They are 3-4 in their home games, 3-2 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at a neutral site for this game. They lost their last game against NC State 35-30. Jacolby Criswell was the starting QB and he completed 18/33 passes for 273 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Omarion Hampton led the team in rushing yards with 185 and 1 TD. Chris Culliver led the receivers with 96 receiving yards on 2 receptions and 1 TD. Amare Campbell led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 4 assisted tackles while Amare Campbell and Desmond Evans each led the defense in sacks with 1.5. Marcus Allen came away with the only interception for them in that one.

The current betting odds have North Carolina listed as a 3 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. North Carolina has looked good in their games this season with their 6-6 record overall which was enough to get them to this game, but their 3-5 conference record has them in the bottom half of the ACC. They ended the regular season with a loss to NC State and they struggled a lot more against ACC opponents, but they looked a lot better against non-conference opponents and they have something to play for here with Belichick taking over the coaching duties next season. These players are going to show what they have for the next regime coming in. Meanwhile, UConn has looked great in their games this season with their 8-4 record overall, but they don't have the strongest schedule since they are an Independent. They ended the season with a win over UMass in their last one, but they still gave up 42 points to a bad UMass team in that game. UNC doesn't have the best defense, but their offense has been putting up a ton of points in their games all season and they are going to put up points on this UConn defense that has been giving up a lot of points to bad offenses. UConn also lost all 3 games they played against ACC opponents this season as they just don't have the talent on their team. The best way to place a bet here is on North Carolina to cover the spread in this game. 

UConn North Carolina Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, December 28, 2024 (11:00 am ET start time) is UNC 33 UConn 24.

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UConn Huskies: 6-3 ATS against ACC opponents. 5-2 ATS after allowing 37 points or more last game. 11-5 ATS in games played on a grass field. 7-0 OVER vs. good offensive  teams - scoring 31 or more points/game. 6-3 OVER versus good offensive teams - averaging 5.9 yards/play or more.

North Carolina Tar Heels: 14-22 ATS in all lined games. 9-17 ATS as a favorite. 3-8 ATS off a loss against a conference rival. 2-7 ATS when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 8-5 OVER when the total is between 49.5 and 56. 14-5 1H OVER after playing a game at home. 

UConn Huskies:  N. Evers (QB) Questionable - Leg. T. McDonald (QB) Out - Foot.

North Carolina Tar Heels:  D. Barlow (RB) Questionable - Undisclosed. J. Randolph (TE) Questionable - Undisclosed. B. Nesbit (TE) Out - Wrist. L. Boyd (K) Out - Lower Body. M. Johnson (QB) Out - Leg.

“(Our first three) practices have just kind of been generic training camp-type practices, but there is not necessarily a goal at the end of them. Keeping everyone motivated and inspired to go out there with their energy up is not as easy when you are this far out from the game. We have just practiced generally.” - Jim Mora on playing in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. 

“I'm absolutely amazed that they were able to compete like they did tonight and play as hard as they did, with all the pressure on them and with the uncertainty in their future. So I'm really, really proud of them.” - Mack Brown after his team’s loss against NCSU in their regular season finale. 

WR Bell, Skyler 

WR Gathings, Jasaiah

WR Sheffield, TJ

TE Hansen, Louis

QB Evers, Nick

RB Edwards, Cam 

WR Jones, J.J. 

WR Paysour, Kobe 

WR McCollum, Nate 

TE Copenhaver, John 

QB Criswell, Jacolby

RB Hampton, Omarion

Passing: J. Fagnano (1480)

Rushing: C. Edwards (756)

Receiving: S. Bell (783)

Touchdowns: C. Edwards (9)

Passing: J. Criswell (2452)

Rushing: O. Hampton (1660)

Receiving: J. Jones (570)

Touchdowns: O. Hampton (17)

Coaches:

UConn Huskies: Jim Mora (3rd season)

North Carolina Tar Heels: Freddie Kitchens (Interim)