Match prediction and preview for North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Minnesota Gophers

Week 1 of a historic 2024 college football season begins with an early Big Ten-ACC clash when Minnesota hosts North Carolina on Thursday night.

Carolina is currently undergoing further changes to its defense, which struggled during Mack Brown's tenure. New coordinator Geoff Collins is making his debut, while Max Johnson and Conner Harrell will use the game to prove they are worthy of the Tar Heels' starting quarterback position.

Minnesota is coming off its first season with more losses than wins since the 2017 season, putting pressure on coach PJ Fleck to turn things around and make a change at quarterback after the team posted subpar offensive numbers last year.

What can we expect from this matchup? Here's what to look for when North Carolina and Minnesota face off in this Week 1 college football game with our updated prediction.

When: Thursday, August 29
Time: 8 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox Network

North Carolina vs. Minnesota Game Odds, Lines

Courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

North Carolina -1.5 (-120)
Minnesota: +1.5 (-102)

North Carolina: -130 win
Minnesota: +108 win

Over 50.5 points (-115)
Below 50.5 points (-105)

FPI Tips: UNC 54.3% | UM 45.7%

What you should pay attention to

1. Fight on the line. With the quarterback position uncertain, Carolina will initially run its offense primarily through tailback Omarion Hampton.

He rushed for 1,504 yards and scored 15 touchdowns last year, and will need to find running routes against a Gophers front seven that ranks 10th in the Big Ten at 4.7 yards per carry and 149 yards per game.

2. The Gophers' new quarterback. Veteran transfer Max Brosmer joins a Gopher offense that lacked efficiency and explosiveness, to say the least, last season. Minnesota ranked 119th in 10-yard passes, 93rd in 20-yard passes, 104th in 30-yard passes and dead last in 40- and 50-yard passes.

Brosmer has rushed for 8,713 yards and 70 touchdowns in his career, but needs more help from a receiver corps that had as many drops as contested grabs last year, according to PFF's numbers.

3. Tar Heels in the air. Johnson and Harrell are battling for the starting QB spot and will use this game as a proving ground, putting some of the ACC's better receivers against Minnesota's vulnerable pass defense.

JJ Jones and Kobe Paysour will join tight end Bryson Nesbit to lead UNC's air attack against a Gopher defense that lost safety Tyler Nubin and finished 10th in the B1G in passing touchdowns allowed per game and 13th in completion percentage allowed last fall.

Prediction for North Carolina vs. Minnesota

Brosmer is a real threat as a playmaker and works behind a good line with enough good passes, but his supporting players are uncertain after the injury to tailback Darius Taylor.

Still, he and the Gophers' targets should find some holes in Carolina's defense, which struggled across the field last season.

As long as the Tar Heels can stay ahead against the Gophers' vulnerable run-stopping and pass defense, and combined with the injuries on Minnesota's offense, they should have a slight advantage.

College Football Headquarters' picks…

The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

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