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Posted at 11:30 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Connecticut +117 ML over North Carolina

Fenway Park – Boston, MA

Fenway Bowl

11:00 ET. North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as their next head coach has dominated headlines this college football season. The news has sparked immense excitement for Tar Heel fans and football enthusiasts alike, with sportsbooks already posting futures on how many games Belichick’s squad will win next season. Yet, here’s the thing: Bill Belichick will not be coaching this game. Mack Brown won’t be on the sidelines either. This is the current state of Carolina football — lots of hype but little substance for this matchup.

The Tar Heels stumbled into bowl eligibility, dropping a crushing loss to NC State in their season finale. Since then, it’s been a revolving door of players entering the transfer portal, leaving this program in a state of disarray. The team’s interim coaching staff is tasked with rallying a squad that appears to be in free fall. North Carolina is a rudderless ship in a game that is supposed to showcase motivation and cohesion.

Enter Connecticut. The Huskies are flying under the radar, but their turnaround story is nothing short of remarkable. Just three seasons ago, this program celebrated a single victory against an FCS opponent (Yale). Fast forward to today, and UConn has achieved its best record in 14 years under Jim Mora Jr. Mora, a former NFL head coach, has injected life and direction into this program, leading them to their second bowl game in three years. A win here would give the Huskies nine victories, marking their best season since 2007. That’s not just a goal; it’s a driving force.

While all eyes are on North Carolina’s coaching headlines, the real story is UConn’s hunger and focus. The Huskies have been climbing steadily from the depths of irrelevance, and this bowl game is an opportunity to cement their progress. Meanwhile, North Carolina’s players might already have one foot out the door, distracted by transfers, coaching changes, and the offseason ahead.

If you strip away the noise and focus on the current state of these programs, Connecticut is the clear value play. The number posted suggests the Huskies are very much live, and with all the momentum on their side, this is their game to win.

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