You ever see an old friend after many, many years and he’s got a new wife? Well, that’s the college football betting situation in this weekend’s Orange Bowl.
Carolina head coach Mack Brown knows the Aggies very well from his 16 seasons in Austin as head coach at Texas. But that was a long time ago. The Longhorns and Brown went through a messy divorce, but now he’s back and feeling younger than ever with a new team—North Carolina.
It’s not a mid-life crisis, but it should be a heck of a football game.
Let’s check out our best college football free picks and predictions for Texas A&M vs. North Carolina. Kickoff is set for Saturday, January 2 at 8:00 ET.
Orange Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview
Weather
As you might expect, it will be plenty nice in Miami on Saturday night, even in the dead of winter. Look for a temperature of 63 degrees, with wind out of the south at 9 mph and a 25-percent chance of showers. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key Injuries
Texas A&M: Dylan Wright WR (Questionable), Devin Morris DB (Questionable), Myles Jones DB (Questionable), Micheal Clemons DL (Out).
North Carolina: Michael Carter RB (Out), Javonte Williams RB (Out), Dyami Brown WR (Out), Storm Duck DB (Questionable), Obi Egbuna DB (Questionable), D.J. Jones RB (Questionable), Chazz Surratt LB (Out).
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
North Carolina is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games this season. Find more NCAA betting trends for Texas A&M vs. North Carolina.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
The Aggies are upset about being left out of the College Football Playoff, and they have reason to be. Texas A&M’s only loss of the season came to undefeated Alabama, and the Aggies have since won seven straight games. Quarterback Kellen Mond has thrown for 19 touchdowns this season, and he would be the first to credit his offensive line as he has only been sacked four times all year. He also has workhorse RB Isaiah Spiller and his 986 yards rushing in the backfield.
The last time North Carolina was this talented was Mack Brown’s first stint in Chapel Hill, which is where he built his reputation before bolting for Texas. Now Mack is back, and his Tar Heels have an offense as explosive as any in the country. The Heels average 43 points per game and quarterback Sam Howell has blistered opposing defenses for 3,352 yards, 27 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Will the Aggies be motivated to prove they deserved to be in the playoff or disappointed that they won’t be participating? The Heels will be missing some vital pieces on offense, but Brown has recruited well enough to fill those gaps, and I wouldn’t lay more than a touchdown against Howell. The Heels just finished crushing Miami on this very same field, so they’ll feel right at home and cover the number.
PREDICTION: North Carolina +7.5 (-110)
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Over/Under Pick
The Total in this Orange Bowl matchup has dropped a couple of points, and it’s because North Carolina will be without its top two rushers. Both Michael Carter and Javonte Williams have opted out of the game to get ready for the NFL draft, and leading receiver Dyami Brown will join them.
The Heels won’t be as explosive as a result, so I’m putting my money on the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 65.5 (-110)
Team Total Pick
Mond is one of the better quarterbacks in the country, but he’s not as dangerous as Howell—and the Aggies don’t want to engage Carolina in a shootout.
The best way for Texas A&M to win is to keep the UNC offense off the field. So look for a heavy dose of Spiller as it aims to control the time of possession, even if it means fewer points on the board.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M team total Under 37.5 (-110)
Orange Bowl: Texas A&M vs North Carolina Betting Card
- North Carolina +7.5 (-110)
- Under 65.5 (-110)
- Texas A&M team total Under 37.5 (-110)
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s Orange Bowl: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina picks, you could win $59.58 on a $10 bet?
Use our NCAA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where Can I Bet on College Football Bowl Games?
You can bet on college football bowl game odds at every online and casino sportsbooks, including NCAA football point spreads, Over/Under totals, derivative bets and even prop plays as well. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on college football odds in your area.
