How Will North Carolina Fare With a Change at Quarterback in 2024?

With action on the hardwood soon to take over the airwaves, college football will be (temporarily) put on the back burner.

However, for those gridiron fans who want to get ahead of the game, FanDuel Sportsbook has gone live with 2024 college football win totals!

Out in the new-look ACC, the North Carolina Tar Heels are preparing for life after quarterback Drake Maye (who currently yields the second-shortest odds to be selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft).

Before spring ball gets up and running, let's have a look at UNC's 2024 win total odds at FanDuel Sportsbook while taking both perspectives -- the over and the under.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

North Carolina Football Win Total Odds

North Carolina Football Over/Under 7.5 Wins

• Over: -144
• Under: +118

North Carolina 2024 Football Schedule

Why North Carolina Could Win Over 7.5 Games (-144)

With most Tar Heel supporters currently enamored with the men's basketball team (who show +2100 odds to win the upcoming NCAA Tournament ahead of Friday), I am here to proclaim that UNC will still be formidable on the gridiron in 2024.

FanDuel Sportsbook has set North Carolina's win total at 7.5 games for the coming campaign. That is a respectable number to go over, but the Heels might just have the talent and schedule to make it happen.

In 2024, UNC will kick off the season at the Minnesota Golden Gophers, which is certainly a winnable contest. From there, a softer non-conference schedule will give way to the annual rivalry bid against the Duke Blue Devils -- that game will be hosted in neighboring Durham.

The Tar Heels will not have to leave their home state for the entire month of September. After UNC's opener in the Twin Cities, they don't depart North Carolina again until October 26th at the Virginia Cavaliers.

On the field, UNC will roll out a new quarterback in 2024. Standing at 6-foot-2, signal-caller Conner Harrell is one of the top dual-threat players in the ACC. Can he be the next in a long line of talented QBs under Heels head coach Mack Brown?

For Brown, this will be his 16th year -- over two separate stints -- leading the program in Chapel Hill. Through that span, he has compiled a 107-73-1 (.594) total record. Since rejoining the Heels in 2019, UNC has won as many as nine contests in a single campaign.

On defense, cornerback Marcus Allen will return for his junior season. As a sophomore, Allen led the squad with eight passes defended. At mikebacker, Amare Campbell should see elevated action as a sophomore. Campbell has the quality size and skills to thrive at the FBS level -- he will certainly fill up a stat sheet through multiple categories.

Looking through North Carolina's upcoming football schedule, there is a strong chance that this win-total market comes down to the final week (Nov. 30) against the North Carolina State Wolfpack. As an intrastate rivalry, this meeting is always contentious -- the Heels were upset in Raleigh last year and will likely have revenge on the brain.

Why North Carolina Could Win Under 7.5 Games (+118)

UNC has a solid squad in 2024, no doubt. Still, eight wins is an ambitious feat. Keep in mind -- this is an expanded Athletic Coast Conference, showcasing 17 separate institutions.

North Carolina won't face any conference newbies in the coming season, but they still see myriad challenges. Prior to the clash in Durham, the Tar Heels will host a chippy James Madison Dukes team. From there, conference games at the Florida State Seminoles and Boston College Eagles will be tough sledding.

In recent years, UNC has thrived behind high-flying offenses. With Harrell now taking the snaps in Chapel Hill, the Heels might offer a different approach. For 2024, I'd expect North Carolina's rushing totals to go up, which is great. However, will they have the defense to support that style?

A year ago, the Tar Heels surrendered 27.3 PPG to opponents, which leaves room to be desired. Still, they managed 34.5 PPG of their own on offense. This season, I find it unlikely that UNC will reach that same scoring clip, but they can still be respectable.

North Carolina defensive coordinator Geoff Collins will have a tall task in 2024. After a three-season stint as head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Collins comes to Chapel Hill with an agenda of improvement. His prior experience within the ACC should go a long way in the coming campaign.

Since Coach Brown's return to North Carolina, the Heels have absolutely improved their football brand. However, through that five-year span, UNC has thrice gone over 7.5 wins.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.