North Carolina vs. Minnesota prediction, pick, spread, soccer odds, where to watch, TV channel, live stream

A year after losing 31-13 at North Carolina, Minnesota now has a chance at redemption when the Gophers host UNC on Thursday night in the only game between power conference teams. The Tar Heels enter the battle as slight favorites between teams that bring some unknowns at the quarterback position heading into the 2024 season.

UNC has benefited from two quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft in the first five seasons of coach Mack Brown’s second tenure at the school. But with Drake Maye gone to the New England Patriots, the Tar Heels must find his replacement. Brown has not commented on who has the edge in the race between Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson and sophomore Conner Harrell.

Minnesota knows who its quarterback will be – transfer from New Hampshire Max Brosmer — but it’s not certain how his game will translate to the FBS level. Brosmer has been productive in his five seasons of FCS football, but faces a tall task recharging the Gophers’ offense, which ranked 122nd nationally in total offense last season.

While the quarterbacks are new, two star running backs return to support each team. Read below for more analysis and predictions on North Carolina vs. Minnesota.

North Carolina vs. Minnesota: What you need to know

Stars from the backfield: The return of Minnesota running back Darius Taylor will be a big help to the Gophers after he rushed for 799 yards in just six games last season despite his injuries. Taylor is only a sophomore and is poised for a breakout season after being rated as a three-star prospect in the class of 2023. UNC counters with Omarion Hampton, an elite running back who is expected to be a thrilling battle between some of the best runners in the country. Hampton is the third-best returning runner in the country after rushing for 1,504 yards on the ground last season. He is also a reliable dump-off target in the passing game.

Training of new coordinators: Both teams are currently working on new defensive coordinators, as Corey Hetherman steps in at Minnesota and Geoff Collins takes over at North Carolina. Collins, the former Georgia Tech coach, was off the bench last season. He replaces Gene Chizik, who struggled to unlock the unit’s talent over the past two seasons. Hetherman comes from Rutgers, where he was linebackers coach for the past two seasons, during which time he helped the Scarlet Knights gain a reputation for solid defense.

Last time: The last time they played UNC, they did that thanks to 414 yards of passing from Maye, who hit Nate McCollum 15 times for 165 yards. Hampton averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and finished with 46 yards on 13 attempts. This time around, the Tar Heels will likely need more from their running game as they have to break in a new quarterback. Minnesota will definitely need more from its passing game, as the Gophers’ quarterbacks completed just 11 of 30 passes for 133 yards in the last game, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

How to watch North Carolina vs Minnesota live

Date: Thursday, August 29 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Huntington Bank Stadium – Minneapolis
TV: Fox | Live stream: fubo (try for free)

North Carolina vs. Minnesota Prediction, Tip

Last year, North Carolina had a future first-round pick at quarterback in the NFL Draft and both teams had already played two games. Still, they only combined for 44 points. Now, both teams are breaking in new quarterbacks — the Tar Heels haven’t even named a starter yet — and will likely rely on their running game as they navigate a new season. Points will likely be at a premium. Selection: Under 50.5

What college football picks can you confidently make in Week 1? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all based on a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit since its inception — and find out.