North Carolina (2-5) vs Syracuse (3-5)
October 31, 2025 at 07:30 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Syracuse -1.5 — Over/Under: +47.5
The North Carolina Tar Heels and the Syracuse Orange meet Friday in college football action from JMA Wireless Dome. Here’s a North Carolina vs Syracuse prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best North Carolina vs Syracuse pick. We will examine:
The North Carolina Tar Heels recent form and player performance
The Syracuse Orange recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the North Carolina Tar Heels
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Syracuse Orange
Recent betting trends in games played between North Carolina and Syracuse
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the North Carolina vs Syracuse game
The Tar Heels managed to win two of their first three games this year, falling to TCU in the opener before victories over Richmond and Charlotte in the next two. A losing streak began after that however, as the Tar Heels lost to Central Florida, Clemson and California in the ensuing trio. In the 21-18 loss to Cal on October 17, North Carolina posted just 5-of-14 on third downs and three lost fumbles. The defense wasn’t too bad on the other side though, holding the Bears to just 6-of-16 o third downs and 80 rushing yards.
Matched up against Virginia last weekend, North Carolina held a 10-10 tie by the break. That score would last until overtime, when Virginia notched a 7-6 run for a dramatic 17-16 home loss for the Tar Heels. UNC’s Gio Lopez threw for 23-of-36 for 208 yards, one TD and two interceptions while also running in a touchdown. Benjamin Hall was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 50 yards and Jordan Shipp had seven catches for 67 yards in the losing effort.
Over on the Syracuse side, they lost an unenviable road matchup versus Tennessee in their opener but then took out UConn, Colgate and Clemson in the next trio. the next three games were all losses however, as Syracuse fell versus Duke, SMU and Pitt in succession. In the loss to the Panthers 30-13 on October 18, the Orange offense struggled on 212 total yards, 3.2 yards per play, 13 first downs, 4-of-16 on third-down tries and three interceptions during the defeat. It wasn’t a great day for Syracuse.
In their game last Saturday against Georgia Tech, Syracuse traded field goals in the first quarter then gave up 17 unanswered points in the second. After 13 more points in the latter half, the Orange ended up with a 41-16 loss. QB Rickie Collins was 17-of-29 for 224 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing a team-high 14 times for 41 yards. Yasin Willis had 10 carries for 76 yards and Darrell Gill caught five balls for 79 yards and a touchdown in the road defeat.
Heading into Week 10, Justus Ross-Simmons leads Syracuse for touchdowns (5) this season.
North Carolina Tar Heels Player Prop Facts
Heading into Week 10, Jordan Shipp leads North Carolina for receptions (29) this season.
Syracuse ranks 124th among FBS teams for yards allowed per game this season (437.0).
Syracuse ranks T124th among FBS teams for average point differential in second quarters this season (-4.5).
North Carolina ranks 131st among FBS teams for H2 points per game this season (7.4).
North Carolina ranks 131st among FBS teams for yards per game this season (279.9).
I’ll lean toward North Carolina. The Tar Heels posted a gritty one-point loss in overtime at home versus an excellent Virginia team last weekend. The three turnovers and rough 5-of-15 result on third-down conversion attempts helped sink their efforts, though. Defensively UNC was in great form though, posting 259 yards and 16 first downs allowed alongside an interception. The trouble with the Tar Heels these days is scoring; they’ve been below 19 points in four straight games—losing all of them.
As for Syracuse, there wasn’t much chance that they’d be able to hang around with a great Georgia Tech team in a road matchup last weekend—and they didn’t. The Orange offense gathered just 17 first downs and 5-of-14 on third-down tries, while the defense surrendered 28 first downs, 8.0 yards per play and 8-of-12 on third downs on the other side. Syracuse should fare better here but I like UNC a little more.
The North Carolina Tar Heels recent form and player performance
The Syracuse Orange recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the North Carolina Tar Heels
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Syracuse Orange
Recent betting trends in games played between North Carolina and Syracuse
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the North Carolina vs Syracuse game
North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Preview
The Tar Heels managed to win two of their first three games this year, falling to TCU in the opener before victories over Richmond and Charlotte in the next two. A losing streak began after that however, as the Tar Heels lost to Central Florida, Clemson and California in the ensuing trio. In the 21-18 loss to Cal on October 17, North Carolina posted just 5-of-14 on third downs and three lost fumbles. The defense wasn’t too bad on the other side though, holding the Bears to just 6-of-16 o third downs and 80 rushing yards.
Matched up against Virginia last weekend, North Carolina held a 10-10 tie by the break. That score would last until overtime, when Virginia notched a 7-6 run for a dramatic 17-16 home loss for the Tar Heels. UNC’s Gio Lopez threw for 23-of-36 for 208 yards, one TD and two interceptions while also running in a touchdown. Benjamin Hall was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 50 yards and Jordan Shipp had seven catches for 67 yards in the losing effort.
Syracuse Orange Betting Preview
Over on the Syracuse side, they lost an unenviable road matchup versus Tennessee in their opener but then took out UConn, Colgate and Clemson in the next trio. the next three games were all losses however, as Syracuse fell versus Duke, SMU and Pitt in succession. In the loss to the Panthers 30-13 on October 18, the Orange offense struggled on 212 total yards, 3.2 yards per play, 13 first downs, 4-of-16 on third-down tries and three interceptions during the defeat. It wasn’t a great day for Syracuse.
In their game last Saturday against Georgia Tech, Syracuse traded field goals in the first quarter then gave up 17 unanswered points in the second. After 13 more points in the latter half, the Orange ended up with a 41-16 loss. QB Rickie Collins was 17-of-29 for 224 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing a team-high 14 times for 41 yards. Yasin Willis had 10 carries for 76 yards and Darrell Gill caught five balls for 79 yards and a touchdown in the road defeat.
North Carolina Tar Heels @ Syracuse Orange Betting Trends: Week 10
Syracuse Orange Player Prop Facts
Heading into Week 10, Justus Ross-Simmons leads Syracuse for touchdowns (5) this season.
North Carolina Tar Heels Player Prop Facts
Heading into Week 10, Jordan Shipp leads North Carolina for receptions (29) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
Syracuse ranks 124th among FBS teams for yards allowed per game this season (437.0).
Syracuse ranks T124th among FBS teams for average point differential in second quarters this season (-4.5).
North Carolina ranks 131st among FBS teams for H2 points per game this season (7.4).
North Carolina ranks 131st among FBS teams for yards per game this season (279.9).
North Carolina vs Syracuse Prediction
I’ll lean toward North Carolina. The Tar Heels posted a gritty one-point loss in overtime at home versus an excellent Virginia team last weekend. The three turnovers and rough 5-of-15 result on third-down conversion attempts helped sink their efforts, though. Defensively UNC was in great form though, posting 259 yards and 16 first downs allowed alongside an interception. The trouble with the Tar Heels these days is scoring; they’ve been below 19 points in four straight games—losing all of them.
As for Syracuse, there wasn’t much chance that they’d be able to hang around with a great Georgia Tech team in a road matchup last weekend—and they didn’t. The Orange offense gathered just 17 first downs and 5-of-14 on third-down tries, while the defense surrendered 28 first downs, 8.0 yards per play and 8-of-12 on third downs on the other side. Syracuse should fare better here but I like UNC a little more.