Bill Belichick will face the No. 1 ranked team for the first time in his college coaching career as the North Carolina Tar Heels host the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Team Records and Recent Form
The Hurricanes enter the game with a 7-0 overall record and a 5-0 mark in ACC play, standing as one of three undefeated teams in the FBS. Miami is riding an 11-game regular-season winning streak, most recently defeating Pittsburgh 53-23. The Tar Heels are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, having already matched last season's win total. North Carolina comes off a 31-30 overtime loss to Syracuse.
Series History and Betting Odds
North Carolina has won the last five meetings between the programs, which are meeting for the first time since 2023. Miami is a 14-point favorite, with the over/under set at 53.5 points. The Hurricanes are 5-2 against the spread this season, while the Tar Heels are 4-3.
Model Projections
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates each FBS game 10,000 times, projects the total points to stay under 53.5. The model highlights Miami's defense, ranked 11th nationally in scoring defense and allowing just 2.4 yards per rush, with nine takeaways matching the number of passing touchdowns allowed. North Carolina's offense ranks 112th out of 138 FBS teams in total offense. On the other side, the Tar Heels' defense has held back-to-back opponents below a 60% completion percentage and averages the fourth-fewest penalties per game in college football. Quarterback Darian Mensah, who averages over three passing touchdowns per game, is projected to throw fewer than two touchdown passes, with the under hitting in 53% of simulations. The model also indicates one side of the point spread hits in over 60% of simulations.
Model Track Record
Entering Week 9, the SportsLine model held a 68-59 record on top-rated college football picks, returning nearly $400 for every $100 wagered.
