Free NCAA Football Prediction: Tar Heels vs. Hokies Odds
Looking for North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Virginia Tech Hokies free picks? College football betting sees the Tar Heels taking on the Hokies on Friday, September 3 at Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 1 predictions like this North Carolina Virginia Tech free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 1
(0-0) North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (0-0)
Date: Friday, September 3rd 2021
Time: 8 pm EST
Venue: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia Tech
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: Tar Heels -5.5 | Hokies +5.5
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Tar Heels -200 | Hokies +170
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 61
The North Carolina Tar Heels will travel to Blacksburg and open their season with the Virginia Tech Hokies.
HISTORY: Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 24-12-6, but UNC won last year’s meeting, a 56-45 shootout that featured well over 1,000 yards of offense.
North Carolina Tar Heels
10 North Carolina finished 8-4 last season, finishing fourth in the ACC and earning an Orange Bowl berth.
Head coach Mack Brown will enter his 12th season at UNC, and the legendary coach has posted a 15-10 record since he returned to Chapel Hill.
Sam Howell comes into the season as not only one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, but one of the best players. He’s thrown for over 3,300 in both of his first two years starts, and he thrown an impressive 62 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions leading Mack Brown’s high powered offense.
The Tar Heels were spearheaded by the dynamic 1-2 punch of Javonte Williams and Michael Carter last season, but both are now in the NFL. The run game has been a staple in Mack Brown’s gameplan for years, and he’ll have this year’s crop of backs ready for whatever Blacksburg offer.
Along with losing WIlliams and Carter, UNC lost leading receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome to the NFL as well. They will be retooling the entire offense around Howell, and Khafre Brown figures to be a name to watch after catching 13 passes for 297 yards.
The Tar Heels gave up 28.4 points per game in 2020.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech will enter the 2021 season looking to respond after missing a bowl game for the first time since 1993. The Hokies went 5-6 and finish eighth in the ACC last year, and improvements have to be made.
Justin Fuente will enter his sixth year at the helm in Blacksburg, and he’s posted a 38-26 record through five seasons, with one bowl victory.
2020 starter Hendon Hooker transferred to Tennessee leaving the door open for Oregon transfer Braxton Burmeister to win the starting job. In four games last season, Burmeister threw for 581 yards, with two touchdowns to one interception. He added 136 yards on the ground, and two scores.
Khalil Herbert went pro after leading the Hokies with 1,183 rushing yards, leaving third-leading rusher Raheem Blackshear as the leader to replace him. Blackshear transferred in from Rutgers and ran for 225 yards and a score last season.
The Hokies do return their top three pass catchers from 2020 in Tre Turner, Tayvion Robinson, and James Mitchell. Robinson led VT with 38 catches and 592 yards, while Turner posted identical numbers of 34 catches and 529 yards. Both wideouts snagged three touchdowns catches.
Virginia Tech gave up 32.9 points per game in 2020.
Free Week 1 NCAA Football Pick
ACC Football is back with a strong southern rivalry. There last two matchups have been shootouts, but with both teams retooling offensively, expect a slower pace. Especially if the pending weather holds up.
4* Free Week 1 NCAA Betting Pick: North Carolina -5.5
It’s a make or break year for Justin Fuente at Virginia Tech. Six years in, and his regime hasn’t progressed very well. If Tech went into this contest with less question marks and more than home field advantage on their side, they’d be an appealing underdog at Lane Stadium Friday night. Sam Howell will be the best player on the field, and we like him leading his team to the road victory. Bet on North Carolina to cover the managable spread, and sprinkle their moneyline in a parlay.
Tar Heels vs. Hokies Free Score Prediction: North Carolina 32 – Virginia Tech 21 (Bet Now!)
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