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2009 College Football Odds: Butch Davis enters his third season with the Tar Heels with a 12-13 record at the university. However, the former Miami Hurricane coach did guide the team to its first winning season since 2001 last year as North Carolina finished with an 8-5 record. The Heels went 4-4 in conference play and placed fourth in the ACC's Coastal division. Online bookmaker Bodog.com has UNC listed at 5 to 1 odds to win the ACC Championship in their North Carolina Tar Heels 2009 College Football odds.

Butch Davis should have Heels fans feeling positive about the direction of the football team as he returns 15 starters from last season's winning club. The offense loses some major talent at receiver in Hakeem Nicks (68 receptions, 1222 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Brandon Tate, but they do get quarterback TJ Yates back as well as their top three rushers from 2008. 

Yates has dealt with injury problems in his first two seasons at Chapel Hill, but in six starts last year he threw for 1168 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes. If he stays healthy, he is one of the better signal callers in the ACC.

Blocking for Yates and top tailback Shaun Draughn (866 yards, 4.4 yards per carry) this season is a solid offensive line with good experience. The boys up front gave up 28 sacks and paved the way for a medicore 123 rushing yards per game in 2008; those numbers should be much improved this season as seven of the top 10 linemen are back on campus.

Carolina's defense was abysmal prior to Davis' arrival as opponents averaged 32.3 points per game against the Tar Heels in the five years preceding his hire. They started to turn the corner in 2007, under Davis, dropping the competition's average a total of six points per game. The advances continued last year as the unit held teams to 21.2 per contest.

Nine starters are back from last season, including top tackler Quan Sturdivant (122 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions) and top sacker Bruce Carter (68 tackles, 5 sacks). The two players give North Carolina one of the better linebacking corps in the Coastal division. Playing in front of Sturdivant, Carter, and outside linebacker Zach Brown is a mammoth defensive line that should give the trio plenty of opportunities to blow things up.

The secondary will also take a step up with four junior starters, including cornerback Kendric Burney (78 tackles, 3 interceptions) and free safety Deunta Williams (65 tackles, 3 interceptions).

The Tar Heels open the 2009 season on September 5th with a home game against The Citadel. Their first ACC action comes on September 26th at Georgia Tech.

Bodog.com North Carolina Tar Heels 2009 College Football Odds - BCS Odds 2010

North Carolina Tar Heels Regular Season Win Total:

Over 8.5 (+160)
Under 8.5 (-200)

North Carolina Tar Heels Odds to Win the ACC Coastal Division:

3/1

North Carolina Tar Heels Odds to Win the ACC Championship:

5/1

North Carolina Tar Heels BCS Odds 2010:

35/1

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