The North Carolina Tar Heels are no strangers to the annual bowl game in Charlotte, since they've participated in it a record four times since it debuted in 2002. Their first three appearances ended in disappointment, as they lost when it was the Continental Tire Bowl in 2004 and twice when it was named the Meineke Car Care Bowl (2008, 2009), but they finally got in the win column four years later as they routed Cincinnati 39-17 in what was then known as the Belk Bowl. UNC (6-6) becomes the first team to appear in all four versions of the postseason game when it faces the South Carolina Gamecocks (6-6) on Thursday in the 2021 Duke's Mayo Bowl.
Kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. is set for 11:30 a.m. ET. The Tar Heels are 11-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. South Carolina odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 57.5. Before making any South Carolina vs. North Carolina picks, be sure to see the Duke's Mayo Bowl 2021 predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,600 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters the third week of the 2021-22 college football bowl season on a 43-30 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UNC vs. South Carolina and locked in its Duke's Mayo Bowl 2021 picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds and betting trends for South Carolina vs. UNC:
- North Carolina vs. South Carolina spread: UNC -11
- North Carolina vs. South Carolina over-under: 57.5 points
- North Carolina vs. South Carolina money line: Tar Heels -420, Gamecocks +320
- UNC: The Tar Heels are are 1-8 against the spread in their last nine games following an ATS win
- SC: The Gamecocks are 4-0 ATS in their last four bowl games as underdogs
Why North Carolina can cover
Quarterback Sam Howell likely will finish with fewer than 30 touchdown passes for the first time in his three seasons with the Tar Heels, but he's more than made up for the lower total with his feet. While making 23 TD tosses in 2021 after notching 38 in 2019 and 30 last year, the junior has rushed for 11 scores -- two fewer than team leader Ty Chandler. Howell also has gained 825 yards on 170 carries after running 186 times for 181 yards over his first two campaigns.
When throwing the ball, Howell will be looking for Josh Downs, who is tied for third in the nation with 98 catches and ranks 11th with 1,273 receiving yards. The sophomore wideout, who has set school records in both of those categories, has posted five 100-yard performances this season and had at least eight receptions in all but one of his 12 outings. Downs will be eager to get into the end zone as he has gone five contests without a TD after registering an eight-game streak that dated back to last year's Orange Bowl.
Why South Carolina can cover
The Gamecocks are facing a North Carolina offense that is 17th in the nation in scoring with an average of 36.4 points per game, so they'll need a strong effort from their defense. They've played well against the pass all season, ranking ninth in the country with an average of 178.8 yards allowed. Largely responsible for that is defensive back Jaylan Foster, who earned second-team All-American honors for his efforts.
The redshirt senior leads the Gamecocks with 90 tackles, including 63 solo, and is tied for second nationally with five interceptions. Foster did not pick off a pass over 10 games in his first two seasons with South Carolina after making five interceptions for Gardner-Webb in 2016. Offensively, senior wideout Josh Vann has recorded team highs of 43 receptions, 679 yards and five touchdown catches while junior Kevin Harris, who is second on the Gamecocks with 478 rushing yards, will lead the ground attack following ZaQuandre White's decision to skip the game in order to prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
How to make South Carolina vs. North Carolina picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 58 points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only get the model's Duke's Mayo Bowl picks at SportsLine.
So who wins North Carolina vs. South Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl 2021? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the computer model that is up almost $3,600 on its top-rated college football spread picks, and find out.
