With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 22.
North Carolina Tar Heels
National title odds: 100-1 (opened 100-1)
Season win total: 8.5
FPI win total projection: 8.3
Phil Steele
Strengths: The Tar Heels have five units that rank in my top 25, including two in the top 10. Those units are running back, receiver, offensive line, defensive backs and special teams.
Weaknesses: While I think Mitch Trubisky will have a solid year,
Over/under (8.5): This number seems low as North Carolina was 11-1 last year and returns 14 starters. I do have it as an underdog in three games this year, but that would mean it would have to be minus-one in the net upset category to fall short. I would have to lean with the over.
National title (100-1): At 100-1, the Tar Heels might be worth a small look here. I rate them No. 26 in my Power Poll and they play in the winnable Coastal Division, which gives them a shot at the ACC title game, which would put them one game away from the CFB Playoff. I don't feel they will really upset three teams to win it all, but a small wager at 100-1 would be about three times better than a spin on the roulette wheel.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
The Tar Heels come into the season without a ton of hype, and that's because Marquise Williams, their starting QB for the past couple of years, is gone. But I feel good about the Carolina Blue this year as they avoid Louisville and Clemson.
One of my favorite units in the country is the wide receiving unit in Chapel Hill. Between Ryan Switzer, who had a team-high 55 catches last year, and Bug Howard (29 catches), I think Mitch Trubisky will be fine as he takes over as the starter behind center after getting plenty of experience the past couple of years. Plus, he gets to hand the ball off to Elijah Hood, who went more than 100 yards eight times last year. I'll take the over.
Chris Fallica
O/U: Remember the North Carolina team that lost the season opener to South Carolina last year? Yeah, me neither. That result proved to be one of the more head-scratching results of the season. But if you look back at Larry Fedora's tenure at UNC, early-season struggles have been fairly common.
If the Tar Heels are going to make a run like they did last year, they better shake those issues, as their four toughest games of the season -- Georgia, at Florida State, Virginia Tech and at Miami -- are all within the first seven games (UGA and FSU are within the first five games). The Heels will score a bunch of points again, and Gene Chizik improved the defense greatly. My hunch is a 9-3 season, but wouldn't be surprised if the Heels suffer another head-scratcher of a loss and wind up 8-4. No play for me here.
CFP odds: Unlike last season, where the schedule would have kept the Heels out of the title game, even if they had beaten Clemson in the ACC title game, this year there would be no doubt. UNC has a tough nonconference opener and faces FSU in the regular season. I don't think the Heels will go 12-1 or 11-2, but if they do, they would certainly be in the discussion. Worth taking out that crumbled $5 bill from your pocket if you have one to spare!