North Carolina Tar Heels 2010 College Football Predictions – BCS Odds 2011: Expectations are running higher than ever for Butch Davis and the 2010 North Carolina Tar Heels football team, as they prepare for their fourth season under Davis' direction. Things are looking up at Chapel Hill as the team heads into the upcoming season ranked 18th in the USA-Today/Coaches preseason college football poll. North Carolina even got some championship votes at the recent ACC Kickoff meetings in Greensboro. The bad news for Carolina is they are one of four teams from the ACC Coastal Division ranked in the poll and are picked fourth in that group by media behind Virginia Tech, Miami, and Georgia Tech.
Carolina isn't expected to win a national championship this season, currently installed at +6000 or 60-to-1 odds on the BetUS.com 2011 BCS Championship Board. The Tar Heels are lined at +250 odds to win the ACC Coastal Division, third best behind Miami at +150 and Virginia Tech at +175. Carolina is installed with the fourth best odds to win the ACC outright, less than Miami at +240, Florida State at +275, and Virginia Tech at +300.
It will not take long before Carolina backers find out if their high expectations are merited as they open up the 2010 season on Sept. 4, versus SEC power-house No. 16 LSU at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Already, BetUS.com oddsmakers list Carolina as +1.5 point underdogs for that game.
Unfortunately, the team begins August drills under the dark cloud of an NCAA investigation though it appears alledged improprieties are not the fault of coaches or adminstrators but rogue agents who provided improper benefits to a player or players with the Tar Heels program.
With its tough schedule, it will be difficult for Carolina to win eight games for a third straight year. For the Tar Heels to meet expectations, they need more offensive production than last year and they should with eight starters returning including their quarterback, T.J. Yates. The offense struggled last year, putting up some of the worst numbers in the nation; No. 102 passing, 108 in total offense, No. 83 scoring offense.
The strength of Carolina rests with its defense. The team returns nine starters from a squad that was the ACC's best last year, sixth nationally in total defgense, 10th against the run and 13th in scoring defense.
Bet on sports at online sportsbook BetUS.com and receive up to 145% in Cash Bonuses and start winning today!
