With a 2020 season that has looked different in many aspects across the country, the ACC is trending in even more unfamiliar territory. Heading into the final few games of the regular season, it’s typical alpha Clemson and is no longer alone at the top.
In fact, three teams, including the two facing off in this one, sit within a half-game of the ACC Championship Game and a potential bid into the College Football Playoff.
Does Notre Dame have what it takes to finish the job and win its new conference? Or does the North Carolina turnaround finish with an exclamation point at home on Friday afternoon?
Let’s take a closer look.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
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Details
- Opening Lines: North Carolina +4; O/U 64.5
- Current Line: North Carolina +5.5
- O/U: 68
- Location: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
- Start Time: 3:30 pm ET
- Television: ABC
- Last Meeting: October 7, 2017 - Notre Dame 33, North Carolina 10
Overview
When individual conferences started making the decision over the summer to primarily only play games against each other, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame quickly realized their independent status was going to potentially leave them on the outside looking in. When they ultimately landed on joining the ACC, they could’ve only hoped for the kind of success they’ve seen thus far.
Through eight games, the Fighting Irish are averaging 37.6 points per game against their ACC foes, and have picked up one of their biggest wins in program history at home over then-ranked #1 Clemson. On the offensive side of the ball, senior Ian Book has been solid, throwing for 1,818 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just one interception on the season.
As is the case for most top tier teams in the sport, the defense, however, has been the truly stellar unit. Through the first eight games of the season, the Fighting Irish are allowing just 16.6 points per game in what’s turning into one of the more high scoring conferences.
Unlike Notre Dame, for the Tar Heels, a so far great season (by their typical standards) has been achieved in spite of their defensive unit. Through the first eight games, North Carolina is giving up 30.8 points per game, including 261.8 through the air to rank in the bottom half of the nation.
If it weren’t for an already elite group of passers fighting for the Heisman this year, Tar Heel quarterback Sam Howell could certainly make a case. As of this week, Howell has 2,631 yards of passing to go along with a touchdown to interception ratio of 23:6. His school record of 550 passing yards last week against Wake Forest, once again alleviated a staggering 53 points given up by his defense.
- The road team is 4-0 ATS in the last four Notre Dame-North Carolina meetings
- Notre Dame is 5-0 ATS in their last five vs. teams with a winning record
- The Over is 4-0 in the Tar Heels last four games
Bottom Line
While this game could quickly get away from North Carolina causing Notre Dame to run the clock out in the second half, I do expect points early from both. Neither has proven they can put forth any kind of solid defense and over their last four combined games, are averaging 30 points per first half of the game, individually.
With a total I expected to see closer to 43 than 33, I’m taking the over early.
Pick: First Half Total – OVER 33.5
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.