The Syracuse Orange (4-1) will visit the (#14) North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0) on Saturday afternoon. Syracuse fell flat against the Clemson Tigers 31-14 in last Saturday’s loss. The Orange struggled mightily on offense, losing two fumbles, throwing an interception, and getting sacked five times in the loss. Meanwhile, North Carolina went on the road and beat the Pittsburgh Panthers 41-24. Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye played like a potential first-round pick, throwing for 296 yards and a score on 22-of-30 passing.
Syracuse Orange vs. (#14) North Carolina Tar Heels Odds and Match Details
Team | Spread | Total | ML |
Syracuse | +10
-110 |
O59.5
-110 |
+300 |
(#14) North Carolina | -10-110 | U59.5
-108 |
-400 |
- Fixture: Syracuse @ North Carolina
- Date and Time: October 7, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. EST
- Location: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
- Weather Forecast: Partially Cloudy, 69 degrees
- Field Surface: AstroTurf
Syracuse Orange vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Injury Report
Syracuse Orange Injuries
- Steven Mahar (TE)-Knee: OFS
- Trebor Pena (WR)-Undisclosed: QUESTIONABLE
- Isaiah Jones (WR)-Undisclosed: OUT
- Dan Villari (TE)-Undisclosed: PROBABLE
- Oronde Gadsden (TE)-Ankle:OFS
North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries
- Tylee Craft (WR)-Illness: QUESTIONABLE
- Elijah Green (RB)-Illness: QUESTIONABLE
- Gavin Blackwell (WR)-Upper Body: QUESTIONABLE
Syracuse Orange Key Stats
The Syracuse Orange have scored 38.2 points per game, the third-best mark in the ACC. Three-year starter Garrett Shrader has played well, completing 64% of his passes for 1,148 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has also added 340 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 61 attempts. Syracuse is in the top half of the ACC in rushing yards per game and rushing yards per attempt. However, they do average nearly one interception and fumble committed per day.
Syracuse has been fantastic on defense in 2023, holding opposing offenses to 14.8 points per game. However, the secondary has gotten tested, allowing passers to complete 60% of their passes despite only throwing for 200 yards per game. They are devastating against the run, holding offenses to a laughable 2.7 yards per attempt on 35 carries per game. They also force an ACC-high 2.2 turnovers per game.
North Carolina Tar Heels Key Stats
The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of six teams in the ACC to score more than 35 points per game (35.8). Led by potential first-round pick Drake Maye, the passing attack has been solid. Maye completes 73% of his passes for 1,1887 through four games but has thrown five touchdowns to four picks. However, UNC averages just 4.2 yards per rush attempt despite having Omarion Hampton in the backfield. The Tar Heels do a great job of holding onto the football.
North Carolina is middle-of-the-pack in the ACC in most defensive team metrics. They allow 22 points per game but hold opposing passers to just 56% completion percentage and less than one touchdown pass per game. UNC also does an excellent job against the rush, holding opposing teams to 3.7 yards per rush attempt. They are just slightly outside the top half of the conference in yards allowed per game and turnovers forced per contest.
Game Prediction
I like the Syracuse Orange to cover the spread in this tilt. They have been fantastic on defense, specifically against the run. The North Carolina Tar Heels have already had issues running the ball, and Syracuse could turn them one-dimensional on Saturday. A bounce-back performance from the Orange offense is needed, but a good game should be in store for this ACC contest. So, let’s roll with the Orange to cover on the road against the Tar Heels.