North Carolina Tar Heels vs Syracuse Orange Prediction, 10/31/2025 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: North Carolina Tar Heels vs Syracuse Orange

Date: Friday, October 31, 2025

Location: JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Orange (-2.5)

Total/Over-Under: 46

JMA Wireless Dome is the location where the Syracuse Orange (3-5) will attempt to beat the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-5) on Friday, October 31, 2025. North Carolina opens this contest as 2.5-point dogs from oddsmakers. The betting total comes in at 46.

The North Carolina Tar Heels come into this game with a record of 2-5 for this season. The last time they stepped onto the field, the Tar Heels played the Virginia Cavaliers and took a loss by a final of 17-16. The North Carolina Tar Heels ended up running the ball 39 different times and amassed 145 yds, which is an average of 3.7 yds per carry. Overall, they tallied 75 plays which totaled 353 yds. North Carolina conceded 20 pass completions on 35 attempts for a total of 200 yards, and a completion percentage of 57.1%. On the ground, the Tar Heels gave up 59 yards on 34 tries, which is an average of 1.7 yards per rush surrendered.

Regarding putting the ball in the endzone, the North Carolina Tar Heels are averaging 18.3 points per game. As a unit they're averaging 110.9 yards in the run game which has them sitting 118th in Division 1. The Tar Heels currently have 1,959 yards in total for this campaign. In terms of distribution of touchdowns, North Carolina has totaled 6 touchdowns through the air and 8 touchdowns on the ground. North Carolina has amassed 112 first downs as a unit, and they have been called for 35 penalties for 357 yds. They have surrendered the football 12 different times.

In terms of passing yards, the Tar Heels are conceding 1,645 yds which has them sitting in 59th in Division 1. They are allowing 235.0 yards per outing via the pass as well as giving up a completion percentage of 65.9%. Over the course of this season, they are giving up 345.6 yards per outing which has them sitting 50th in the country. They have allowed 10 touchdowns through the air and 8 touchdowns pounding the rock. The opposition is running for 3.2 yards per running attempt and 110.6 rushing yards per contest for the campaign. Overall, they have allowed 774 rushing yards through 7 outings. The Tar Heels are sitting in 64th in college football when it comes to team defense, conceding 23.9 points per contest.

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The Orange head into this matchup 3-5 for this season. In their last game, the Orange went home defeated by a final of 41-16 when they faced the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Syracuse rushed for 4.6 yards per attempt, finishing the contest with 157 yds on 34 carries. The Orange ended up finishing with 381 yards and they ran 63 plays (6.0 yards per play). The Orange passing defense allowed a completion rate of 80.6%, surrendering 304 yards on 25 out of 31 through the air. Syracuse surrendered 37 run attempts for 239 yards (6.5 yards per carry).

When it comes to how much they score, the Orange sit 84th in D-1 by tallying 25.4 points per game. The Syracuse Orange average 398.4 yards/contest, ranking them 63rd in college football. The Syracuse offense has totaled 452 yds of penalties on 50 violations, which ranks 55th in the nation in terms of helping out the opposition. They have thrown 10 picks while letting opponents recover 6 fumbles and they have tallied 171 first downs. During this campaign thus far, the Orange have a total of 2,284 passing yards as well as an average of 285.5 passing yards per contest, which ranks 21st in D-1. They are averaging 112.9 run yards per game and have rushed for 903 yards for the season.

Syracuse has surrendered a total of 1,300 rushing yards (162.5 yards per outing) as well as 11 touchdowns by way of the ground game this season. They have surrendered 18 touchdowns from the passing game in addition to 273.9 yards per outing, which has them in 129th in Division 1. This season, they have given up 250 points in total. Their defense has tallied 4 fumbles recovered and 5 picks this season. The Orange defense has been on the field for 576 plays, which has them sitting 125th in the nation. The Orange are allowing 31.3 points per contest, ranking them 117th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Tar Heels/Orange college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Tar Heels +2.5

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