Bill Belichick will face the No. 1 ranked team for the first time in his college coaching career as his North Carolina Tar Heels host the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday. The top-ranked Canes (7-0, 5-0 ACC) are one of three undefeated FBS teams and enter on an 11-game regular-season winning streak after a 53-23 victory over Pitt. North Carolina (4-3, 2-2 ACC) has already matched last season's win total but comes off a 31-30 overtime loss to Syracuse.
Game Details
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels have won the last five meetings between the programs, which last played in 2023.
Betting Odds
Miami is a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 53.5 points. The Hurricanes are -625 on the money line (risk $625 to win $100), while North Carolina is +455 (risk $100 to win $455).
Model Predictions
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates each FBS game 10,000 times, leans toward the Under 53.5 points. Miami boasts the No. 11 scoring defense nationally, allowing just 2.4 yards per rush and recording nine takeaways — equal to the passing touchdowns they've allowed. North Carolina ranks 112th out of 138 FBS teams in total offense, but the Tar Heels' defense has held back-to-back opponents under a 60% completion percentage and averages the fourth-fewest penalties per game in college football. Quarterback Darian Mensah, averaging over three passing touchdowns per game, is projected to be held under two passing scores, with the Under hitting in 53% of simulations. The model also indicates one side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations. SportsLine's model entered Week 9 on a 68-59 run on top-rated college football picks, returning nearly $400 for $100 players.
