Football Betting

NCAA football betting – Notre Dame vs North Carolina odds

Posted on 10/6/2008 4:41:20 PM By Stan Simmons

Notre Dame vs North Carolina odds: Tar Heels favored by a touchdown

• WHO: Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 22 North Carolina Tar Heels (-7)
• WHAT: NCAA football betting
• WHEN: October 11, 12:00 p.m. ET
• WHERE: Kenan Memorial Stadium
• KEY STATS: The total has gone UNDER in Notre Dame's last five road games
• PICK: Notre Dame

The NCAA’s two most heavily marketed teams will clash on Saturday, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Ironically, for two mega-hyped schools, these two squads have flown under the NCAA football betting radar all season long.

A Week 3 loss to Michigan State has done nothing to discourage the Irish, who are now unranked at 4-1 for the first time in school history after shocking Stanford at home last week. It was a coming out party for quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who had a career day going 29-for-40 for 342 yards.

After several years of disappointing football in South Bend, the future is looking as bright as the players’ gold helmets. The sophomore pivot helped put up 21 consecutive points beginning in the second and third quarters by hooking up with freshmen Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph for touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Tar Heels defied the NCAA football odds by defeating then-No.25 Connecticut in a blowout. While NCAA football lines were calling for a low-scoring affair in the absence of both teams’ starting quarterbacks, backup Cam Sexton managed the game well and relied on the Heels’ strong running game.

Sophomore Shaun Draughn announced that he’s an NFL-calibre back, barreling through a tough Huskies defense for 109 yards on 19 carries.

The Notre Dame vs North Carolina spread favors the home team by seven points, although the Notre Dame vs North Carolina line may begin moving in the Irish’s direction. While Sexton was at the helm for their upset of UConn, he only completed nine passes and wouldn’t pose any threat to Notre Dame’s secondary.

Freshman Mike Paulus may get a look in this game, but not much is known about his play-calling ability.

BLAKE’S PICK: The Irish have made a living torching opponents with fade routes, and that’s not something the Tar Heels have seen much of this season. Without question, Notre Dame has an advantage if it can turn this game into a shootout, with speedy targets like Floyd and Rudolph.

North Carolina boasts great wideouts in Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate, but can its inexperienced quarterbacks get them the ball The Notre Dame vs North Carolina pick might be one of the trickier ones of the week.

Neither team has an impressive defense but, in a battle of emerging squads, it’s Notre Dame with more experience and a more well-rounded attack. Bet on Notre Dame to get the win.

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Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.