With college basketball just around the corner, bettors could mistake Friday’s premier game as a top-billed hardwood affair. Instead, the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-5, 0-3 ACC) will head to the JMA Wireless Dome to face the Syracuse Orange (3-5, 1-4 ACC).
Bill Belichick’s first season at the collegiate level has been an education for the future NFL Hall of Fame coach. His Tar Heels have been more competitive in their previous two outings, dropping close decisions to both California and Virginia in league matchups.
The opposite is true for the Orange. After a 3-1 start, Syracuse has fallen in four straight games. With two Top 10 opponents lined up following this matchup, the Orange desperately need to win this game to become bowl eligible this season.
Will the Tar Heels win their first ACC contest on Halloween night? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props for the North Carolina-Syracuse contest.
The Tar Heels have a budding star in Gio Lopez leading their offensive attack. The signal-caller has thrown for only 805 yards this season, but he’s grown more comfortable in his role for UNC throughout the season.
While Lopez has completed over 60 percent of his passes, the talented sophomore has thrown for over 200 yards only once this season. The Tar Heels seem content running the football.
Against Syracuse, they’ll face a defense that has allowed multiple opponents to run for over 200 yards this season. For that reason, bettors shouldn’t expect Lopez to have a big outing. Take him to finish below his minuscule passing prop total on Friday night.
After losing Steve Angeli for the season, the Orange have struggled at the quarterback position. This week, head coach Fran Brown acknowledged that Collins will not be the only signal-caller under center against North Carolina. That means freshman Luke Carney is in line for playing time against the Tar Heels.
With such uncertainty at the quarterback position, bettors should look to running back Yasin Willis as a safe harbor. The 6-foot-1 sophomore has 429 rushing yards this season despite splitting time with Will Nixon.
In his last outing, the running back notched 76 rushing yards against Georgia Tech. It was his best performance in more than a month. Expect him to continue that against the Tar Heels’ less-than-stellar defense, and Willis will finish with at least 60 yards on Friday.
All eyes will be on Jordan Friday night. No, not Jordon Hudson, Bill Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend. I’m talking about Jordan Shipp, the Tar Heels' wide receiver. In his sophomore season, Shipp has recorded 29 receptions for 320 yards and two touchdowns thus far.
Opponents have had success throwing the football against Syracuse this season. Both SMU and Georgia Tech finished with over 285 passing yards, creating a template North Carolina could follow. Although it’s unlikely Lopez will be throwing often, his favorite target is Shipp. That’s why bettors should take the receiver to cover this prop total.
Oddsmakers are taking North Carolina’s improved performance on the field into account for this spread. After looking outclassed for much of the first half of this season, the Tar Heels are finally learning how to compete in the ACC.
That won’t matter on Halloween night. The Orange will rally behind whoever their starting quarterback is for this contest, and Syracuse will earn their second ACC victory by at least a field goal on Friday night.