The border battle kicks off the college football season when North Carolina and South Carolina meet on ESPN Thursday in Charlotte. Expectations aren’t high for either club but one thing both squads did last year was score points. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is going through a transition with his team but he still owns a 23-2 record in openers.
ODDS
On paper North Carolina would appear to have the stronger team with 16 starters returning, including 10 on offense. But the SEC bias is prevalent in this one behind the Ole Ball Coach, pegging South Carolina as a 2.5-point favorite to open. The Gamecocks have plenty of questions to start the year and the Tar Heels could snatch this one at a neutral site. The line dropped to -2 while the total opened at 63.5.
KEY MISMATCH
While the defense prevented North Carolina from having a better record last season, the offense, led by quarterback Marquise Williams, was potent. The Tar Heels averaged 430 yards and scored 33 points per game and the unit should be even better in 2015 with 10 starters returning. Williams threw for 3,068 yards and 21 touchdowns, ranking third in the ACC in passing yards. He also ran for 788 yards with 13 scores, to rank behind eventual No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Jameis of Florida State in total offense. South Carolina’s defense will have a difficult time taming the Tar Heels, with nearly half the projected starters being new to the system.
KEY STAT
The Tar Heels had one of the worst defensive units in all of college football last season, surrendering nearly 500 yards and 39 points per game. Those numbers were the worst in the history of the program, forcing massive changes in the defensive coaching staff and overall scheme. Part of the problem was their inability to prevent the big plays. North Carolina allowed 84 plays of 20 yards or more last season, the second-most in FBS. The opener against South Carolina will provide the first look at whether the Tar Heels have improved at all.
BETTING ANGLE
Throw out the records when these border rivals meet. And considering the game will be played at a neutral site, both clubs are coming off down years and it’s the first contest of the season, there’s plenty that can happen here. From a wagering standpoint this one is tough. South Carolina is the favorite simply by being a member of the SEC, the toughest football conference in the country. While many were calling for Steve Spurrier’s retirement after a disappointing 6-6 regular season in 2014, the team did win its bowl game to finish with a winning record. Spurrier wasn’t about to go out with that lowly record and he, along with his team, have a lot to prove in 2015. The Tar Heels are an exciting team and will put up points, but until they prove capable of stopping the opposition, they’re too unpredictable.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
North Carolina may have the better quarterback, with enough skill and talent to compete in a shootout, but the edge on the sidelines – and on defense – belongs to South Carolina. It isn’t a typical Gamecocks team we’re used to seeing under Spurrier, but the coach has done enough to raise the expectations over last year. The defense will be better and is a level above the leaky Tar Heels. Quarterback Connor Mitch makes his first start but it’s his third year in the system, giving him ample time to impress his former quarterback and Heisman winning coach.
South Carolina 37, North Carolina 31
The college football odds for this game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Gamecocks were pegged as 2.5-point chalk while the total opened at 63.5. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The game between the North Carolina Tar heels and South Carolina Gamecocks will start at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 3, 2015, at Bank of America Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
