North Carolina vs. Minnesota picks, predictions: Week 3 college football odds, spread, lines

Picks and predictions for North Carolina vs. Minnesota in this Week 3 college football game featuring a Big Ten vs. ACC matchup

This weekend brings us an intriguing Big Ten vs. ACC matchup on campus as North Carolina looks to get its offense into second gear against visiting Minnesota in a battle of undefeated teams in college football's Week 3 action on Saturday.

Despite the return of Drake Maye, one of the two or three most gifted quarterbacks in the nation, the North Carolina offense has relied more on its productive ground attack instead through the first two weeks, ranking No. 9 nationally with 243.5 rushing yards per game so far.

Minnesota checks in at 2-0 following wins over Nebraska and Eastern Michigan behind a strong defensive performance, posting seven sacks in two games, almost half as many as the team had in all of last season, but needs to improve its red zone offense, which has scored just three times out of eight chances.

What do the experts think of the matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.

North Carolina vs. Minnesota picks, predictions

North Carolina vs. Minnesota picks, predictions / Isaac Shubert | Minnesota Football

North Carolina odds: The computers are siding with the home team this week, as the Tar Heels have the 72.8 percent chance to win outright, according to the index models that pick winners by simulating games 20,000 times.

Minnesota odds: Conversely, the analytics forecast that the Gophers have the 27.2 percent chance to pull out the upset on the road and stay undefeated.

Point spread: North Carolina comes into the game as 7.5 point favorites against Minnesota, according to the lines at SI Sportsbook.

Total: 51 points

North Carolina predictions: FPI rates the Tar Heels as the No. 26 team in the nation by forecasting they will be 10.2 points better than an average opponent, which the index forecasting they will win 8.4 games this season, and have a 4.3 percent shot to win the ACC championship.

Minnesota predictions: The computers estimate the Gophers will be 4.1 points better than an average opponent, ranking No. 49 in the nation in this week's 133 rankings of FBS teams, projected to win 6.4 games this season.

North Carolina vs. Minnesota schedule

When: Sat., Sept. 16
Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: ESPN network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

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College Football Power Index

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance.

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season, using a combination of analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, and a team’s schedule.

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College football rankings

More: A closer look at the AP top 25

First-place votes in parentheses

1. Georgia (55)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Florida State (3)
4. Texas (2)
5. USC
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. Tennessee
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. LSU
15. Kansas State
16. Oregon State
17. Ole Miss
18. Colorado
19. Oklahoma
20. North Carolina
21. Duke
22. Miami
23. Washington State
24. UCLA
25. Iowa

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