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North Carolina Tar Heels 2014 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2014-15 Football Previews – (ACC) – Tar Heels

This seems like the perfect season for North Carolina to take the Coastal Division in the ACC. They finished last year strong, have a number of key returning players and their strongest competition are down.

North Carolina Tar Heels


Head Coach:  Larry Fedora

2013 Record:  7-6
Gambling Odds to win National Championship: 100/1
Gambling Odds to win (ACC):  10/1
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If they are not the best team they might at least be the one with the fewest weaknesses. It might be a little too much too soon but I think this team is a sleeper to make the playoffs this season.

It won’t be easy but if they can conquer their schedule they will have proven quite a bit in the process.

Strengths:

The Tar Heels have 7 returning starters on offense but technically QB Marquise Williams is not among them as he saw less playing time than Bryn Renner last season. However, he did out produce Renner so there is a lot of excitement about his continued development. He is a dual threat who also led the team in rushing.

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UNC loses top target Eric Ebron at TE but top wideout Quinshad Davis returns. Davis is a physical mismatch who led the team in TDs with 10. He even threw a couple of TD passes himself so he is a true weapon.

Also returning at receiver is junior T.J. Thorpe as is senior TE Jack Tabb. The Tar Heels could be even better throwing this year than last.

Norkeithus Otis is technically listed at safety and at 240 pounds he definitely packs a wallop. Ignoring definitions he plays a lot near the line of scrimmage, enough to be second on the team with 8.5 sacks last season. They will need him to keep applying the pressure to make up for graduation losses.

Weaknesses:

UNC has produced some dominant defensive players in recent memory but they will be breaking in 3 new starters on the defensive line this season. DT Ethan Farmer is the most experienced but his production has not been great.

They are also a little light on the line which puts more pressure on the back 7.
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RB TJ Logan has ability but is only 180 and might not be able to take the pounding of being an every down back. He is just a sophomore and unlike last year does not have A.J. Blue, a bruiser to spell him when they need tough yards.

Williams can run but there is concern the offense could be too one dimensional.

I am hot on UNC but other than Davis only one player made an All-ACC team  – punter Tommy Hibbard (3rd). As much as it looks like this team is ready to take the next step it is very possible that the talent is just not there to get them over the hump. Recruiting has not been as good as it once was.

Gambling Prediction:  9-3

2014 UNC Schedule:

  • Aug 30 – Liberty
  • Sep 6 – San Diego State
  • Sep 20 – @East Carolina
  • Sep 27 – @Clemson
  • Oct 4 – Virginia Tech
  • Oct 11 – @Notre Dame
  • Oct 18 – Georgia Tech
  • Oct 25 – @Virginia
  • Nov 1 – @Miami
  • Nov 15 – Pittsburgh
  • Nov 20 – @Duke
  • Nov 29 – NC State

I think UNC can inch forward by winning the games they are supposed to. That likely means road losses at Clemson, Notre Dame and Miami. If that is how it plays out I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the ACC Championship.

This program tends to finish strong so look to get behind them in the final month after that likely loss to the Canes.

There should be some value on them at home against Pittsburgh and especially at Duke provided the Blue Devils stay respectable.

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By The Wiesguy

The Wiesguy is a newcomer to the handicapping scene. Hailing from Toronto, Canada he is always sweet on the underdogs and you can often find his thoughts, musings and picks at moneydogs.blogspot.com.