- Date: September 2, 2023, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Matchup: North Carolina vs. South Carolina
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Storylines
North Carolina
Last season, North Carolina appeared to be a perennial college football contender by winning nine of their first ten games. Unfortunately, they lost their final four games of the season. They will be led by quarterback Drake Maye, who will garner significant attention this year. He’s a player people are watching closely as a potential Heisman candidate and a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
South Carolina
South Carolina began the 2022 season by losing two of their first three games, but they rebounded, going 7-2 for the rest of the regular season, including wins against two ranked opponents (Tennessee, Clemson). The first few games will be a true test of how the season can unfold, as three of their first five games are against ranked opponents (North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee). After being sidelined at Oklahoma, quarterback Spencer Rattler came to South Carolina in hopes of redeeming himself. After struggling in the first part of the season, he finished strong with over 200 passing yards and multiple touchdowns in three of his final four games.
Prediction
With Drake Maye as quarterback, North Carolina will have a fast-paced high-scoring offense, but on the other hand, South Carolina significantly improved offensively towards the end of last year. Both defenses were not very good last year, with South Carolina ranking 87th in points allowed and North Carolina ranking 102nd. This will be one of those back-and-forths, high-scoring shootouts.
We suggest North Carolina (-2.5). Look to bet on the over.