It will be a “Gold Out” for fans at Huntington Bank Stadium as the Minnesota Golden Gophers look to avenge last season’s 31-13 loss against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Can the Golden Gophers secure their third straight season-opening win, or will North Carolina begin the post-Drake Maye era with a victory of its own?
Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Minnesota vs. North Carolina prediction.
Minnesota vs. North Carolina Betting and DFS Preview
All Minnesota vs. North Carolina odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.
- Spread
North Carolina -1.5 - Moneyline
North Carolina -125, Minnesota +105 - Over/Under
50.5 points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN - Predicted Weather at Kick
59 degrees, 8-10 MPH winds, partly cloudy - How to Watch
FOX
With both teams seeking to put their best foot forward after underwhelming 2023 seasons, Minnesota and North Carolina will meet in September for a second straight year.
Last season’s meeting, the first all-time matchup between the schools, was a one-sided affair as the Tar Heels jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the second quarter and cruised to victory while enjoying a double-digit lead the entire fourth quarter. Maye, the No. 3 overall pick of the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft, threw for 414 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the game.
The Tar Heels will try to replace Maye with a QB tandem consisting of Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson and incumbent backup Conner Harrell. Johnson started five games last season for the Aggies but hasn’t been able to avoid the injury bug throughout his collegiate career.
As for the Golden Gophers last season, they were the rare sub-.500 finisher (6-7) who can also claim to be coming into 2024 off of a bowl win. Minnesota lost its final four games of the regular season to finish 5-7 but became bowl-eligible as a five-win team only because of a high Academic Progress Report (APR).
The Tar Heels are a small favorite despite not winning a season opener on their opponent’s home turf since 1992 against Wake Forest. UNC was 1-2 against the spread as a road favorite last season.
Another trend to watch for North Carolina is that the under cashed in four of its five non-conference games in 2023.
Minnesota was a team to fade last season, as they went 3-9 ATS during the regular season, including 0-2 as a home underdog.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB Max Brosmer (MINN)
- QB Max Johnson (UNC)
- QB Conner Harrell (UNC)
- RB Darius Taylor (MINN)
- RB Omarion Hampton (UNC)
- WR Elijah Spencer (MINN)
- WR Le’Meke Brockington (MINN)
- WR Daniel Jackson (MINN)
- WR J.J. Jones (UNC)
- WR Nate McCollum (UNC)
- WR Gavin Blackwell (UNC)
Hampton will take on an even bigger chunk of the offense now that Maye and wide receiver Devontez Walker are playing professionally. He rushed for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 29 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown last season in a breakout year that made him a Doak Walker Award finalist.
If that production alone doesn’t make Hampton an enticing pick for this one, also consider that Minnesota’s defense allowed 4.7 yards per rush last season to rank last among Big Ten teams.
Prediction for Minnesota vs. North Carolina
North Carolina might have to learn the hard way that it’s hard to replace a top-five NFL Draft pick, especially when that pick was a quarterback.
The Tar Heels had four times as many third-down conversions as the Golden Gophers had when they played last season, which fueled their dominance in the time of possession battle.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
North Carolina might have the better season, but this is a tough spot for Mack Brown’s team in what will be a tough environment. If Minnesota can merely contain Hampton in the run game, the raucous crowd dressed in gold might be just enough to help them pull off the upset.
Prediction: Minnesota 20, North Carolina 17
College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!