Duke's Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia odds, picks and predictions
The North Carolina Tar Heels (8-4) and West Virginia Mountaineers (8-4) clash in Wednesday’s Duke's Mayo Bowl. Kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the North Carolina vs. West Virginia odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
North Carolina limped to the finish line of the regular season with back-to-back losses. They lost to the No. 18 NC State Wolfpack in their last game 39-20, failing to cover as the 2.5-point favorite as the Over (55) hit. Future NFL Top-5 draft pick QB Drake Maye accounted for 360 yards of offense (254 passing, 106 rushing) and 3 TDs in the game. He declared for the draft and will not play. North Carolina went 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference to finish 7th.
The Mountaineers finished the regular season winning 4 of their last 5 games for a 6-3 Big 12 record to tie for 4th in the conference. Not bad for a team picked to finish last in the preseason Big 12 poll. They beat the Baylor Bears, 34-31 in their last game, but did not cover the spread as 11.5-point favorites. The game did go Over the 54.5 total. QB Garrett Greene passed for 269 yards, ran for 103 yards and accounted for 4 total TDs in the victory. West Virginia also got 133 yards rushing from RB Jaheim White.
These 2 teams last met in 2008 in Charlotte in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. West Virginia won 31-30, but the Tar Heels covered as the 2.5-point underdog and the Over (47) hit.
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North Carolina vs. West Virginia odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:23 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: North Carolina +205 (bet $100 to win $205) | West Virginia -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Carolina +6.5 (-105) | West Virginia -6.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 55.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
North Carolina vs. West Virginia picks and predictions
Prediction
West Virginia 34, North Carolina 21
Moneyline
PASS.
The Mountaineers are going to win this game. The motivation for North Carolina just is not there. Their stud quarterback has already announced that he's leaving school for the NFL which means he won't suit up for the bowl game.
I'm going to avoid betting the -250 and look to the spread and total.
Against the spread
BET WEST VIRGINIA -6.5 (-115).
These are two teams going in different directions. West Virginia finished strong while North Carolina disappointed most everyone this season.
North Carolina failed to cover the spread in 5 of their last 6 games. Coach Mack Brown said, "We need to win" but do they really? They were hoping to be in the mix for the College Football Playoff, but that obviously did not happen.
The Mountaineers want to win this game.
Over/Under
BET OVER 55.5 (-115).
West Virginia has scored at least 34 points in their last 4 wins. North Carolina scored at least 41 points in their last 5 wins. Obviously, both of these teams can score.
Neither team is known for its defense, allowing over 28 points per game.
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