Pick details
| MATCHUP | East Tennessee State Buccaneers | North Carolina Tar Heels |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 1-1 | 1-0 |
| Where | Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | |
| When | Saturday, September 12, 2026 | |
| Time | 12:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | ACC Network | |
East Tennessee State Buccaneers Betting Preview
The East Tennessee State Buccaneers are 1-1 this season after they defeated Tusculum by a score of 48-14 last week. East Tennessee State led 20-7 at halftime and scored 28 points in the second half for the blowout win. The Buccaneers out gained their opponent by a total of 484-321, went 8-11 on third downs, and lost the turnover battle by a total of 1-0 in the game. Mason Mims threw for 242 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, while Suderian Harrison caught three passes for 71 yards and one score. TJ Peyton rushed 11 times for 121 yards and two scores in the win.Prior to that game, East Tennessee State lost to Campbell by a score of 49-37 in week zero. ETSU trailed 28-24 at halftime and they were outscored 21-13 in the second half for the loss. Mason Mims threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns, while Suderian Harrison caught five passes for 99 yards. TJ Peyton led the ground game once again with 15 carries for 80 yards and one score.
North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview
The North Carolina Tar Heels are 1-0 this year after they defeated TCU by a score of 15-10 in week zero. North Carolina led 12-10 at halftime and pitched a shutout in the second half for the low scoring win. The Tar Heels out gained TCU by a total of 322-281, went 3-11 on third downs, and lost the turnover battle by a total of 2-1 in the game. Billy Edwards Jr threw for 232 yards, while Jelani Thurman had four receptions for 94 yards. Benjamin Hall rushed 11 times for 36 yards in the win.Last year, North Carolina went 4-8 (2-6) last year and they finished near the bottom of the ACC standings. North Carolina started the season with a 48-14 loss to TCU, but they defeated Charlotte and Richmond in their next two games. The Tar Heels lost the next four games to go 2-5 on the season, before going 2-3 in their last five. North Carolina allowed 42, 32, and 28 points in their last three games. The Tar Heels scored 19.2 points per game in 2025, while they allowed 24.5 points against per game on defense.
Why the East Tennessee State Buccaneers will win
- North Carolina has lost each of its last three games in North Carolina.
- North Carolina has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four home openers.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of North Carolina’s last eight home games against non-FBS teams have gone UNDER the total points line.
North Carolina Tar Heels Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 2, Xavier Lewis ranks T10th amongst FBS players for sacks (2.0) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- North Carolina ranks T1st among FBS teams for Q4 opponent points per game this season (0.0).
- North Carolina ranks T1st among FBS teams for H2 opponent points per game this season (0.0).
East Tennessee State vs North Carolina Prediction
North Carolina was able to start the season with a huge win in week zero against TCU and they should have no problem here. The Tar Heels played very good defense in that victory, but the offense needs to find some life. ETSU allowed 49 points to Campbell in their first game, but they have scored 48 and 37 in their two games so far. Take North Carolina to cover here, as I think their defense will be the difference.David Racey's Pick: North Carolina -34.5
