Rutgers Scarlet Knights at North Carolina Tar Heels
Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Saturday, September 10, 2011, 12:30 pm Eastern, TV: SNY, ESPN GP
Opening Line: North Carolina -8
Current Line: North Carolina -10
Opening Total: 48 1/2
Current Total: 48 1/2
Opening Money Line: UNC -380 / Rutgers +315
Current Money Line: UNC -380 / Rutgers +315
Both Rutgers and North Carolina opened the season with dominating wins against FCS schools last week. Coach Greg Schiano’s Rutgers Scarlet Knights shut out North Carolina Central at home 48-0. Interim coach Everett Withers led North Carolina to a 42-10 win over James Madison. Rutgers leads the overall series 3-2 against North Carolina, but this is only the second game in Chapel Hill. Last year North Carolina won 17-13 at Rutgers.
Rutgers was dominant on defense against North Carolina Central. The Scarlet Knights allowed only 120 yards including only 8 yards rushing, had 9 sacks and 4 forced turnovers, and had 2 defensive scores in the 48-0 rout. Of course, NC Central is coming off a 3-8 season and just moved up to FCS from Division II. No Rutgers player had more than 4 tackles, but the Knights did have 15 tackles for loss. Duron Harmon had 2 interceptions including a 37 yard touchdown return. Defensive tackle Scott Vallone recovered a fumble in the end zone for another defensive score
The offense wasn’t terrible for Rutgers but it wasn’t spectacular either. Rutgers had 347 total yards including 210 passing yards. Quarterback Chas Dodd was 9 for 17 for 113 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Back-up Gary Nova even got into the action with a 44 yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. Nova finished 6 for 17 for 97 yards and the touchdown. Rutgers rushed for 137 yards in the game, led by Juwan Jamison, DeAntwann Williams, and Savon Huggins. The freshman Huggins only had 10 carries for 32 yards, but he did have 2 touchdown runs. Jamison had 17 carries for 54 yards, and Williams had 11 carries for 44 yards. Receiver Mohamed Sanu had 7 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Mark Harrison had 2 catches for 47 yards. Brandon Coleman caught the 44 yard touchdown pass from Nova for his only catch of the afternoon. Kicker San San Te was 2 for 2 on field goals from 36 and 22 yards, and made all 6 of his extra points. Punter Justin Doerner had 5 punts with a 46.6 yards average, including 2 touchbacks and one inside the 20.
After a tumultuous off-season that saw UNC coach Butch Davis get fired for violating NCAA rules just days before fall camp began, the Tar Heels got off to a good start. North Carolina beat James Madison 42-10. Though James Madison plays in the lower FCS, they are no pushover. They usually compete for the FCS National title. UNC outgained James Madison 461-211 yards, behind a near record setting performance from quarterback Bryn Renner. The sophomore completed 22 0t of 23 passes for a completion percentage of 95.6%. The record for completion percentage is 95.8% was set by Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin in 1998 against South Carolina. Renner did set a school record for most consecutive completions with 14. He threw for 277 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. He also had 2 carries for 2 yards and a touchdown run. The Tar Heels rushed f0r 184 yards with 4 rushing touchdowns. Giovani Bernard had 9 carries for 64 yards with 2 touchdowns along with 2 catches for 8 yards. Ryan Houston had 16 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, and 3 catches for 36 yards. Senior wideout Dwight Jones had 9 catches, 116 yards, and 2 touchdowns in the win against the Dukes. Kicker Casey Barth didn’t attempt a field goal but did make all 6 of his extra points. Punter Thomas Hibbard only punted twice but he did have a 44 yard average and both were inside the 20.
North Carolina held James Madison to 211 yards including only 59 rushing yards. They had 9 tackles for loss including 5 sacks, and held the Dukes to only 10 first games. Madison was only 2 for 13 on third downs in the game. Zach Brown had 6 tackles including 2.5 for loss and a sack for the Tar Heels. Quinton Coples had 2 sacks in the game for Carolina.
Rutgers is 8-0 against the spread in their last 8 as road underdogs of between 3.5 and 10 points, and 7-1-1 in their last 9 road games against teams with winning records. Rutgers is 2-10 ATS in their last 12 September games. The Scarlet Knights are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 after a straight-up win of more than 20 points. North Carolina is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non conference games. The Tar Heels are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 home games against teams with winning records. UNC is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after a straight up win of more than 20 points. The over is 7-0 in Rutgers’ last road 7 games against teams with winning records, and 5-0 in the last 5 when Rutgers is a road underdog.
We don’t know what to make of these two teams after wins against inferior opponents. North Carolina is the better team, but Rutgers could make it closer than people think.
Check out our college football odds page for the best line on every game. Our college football handicappers are crushing the bookmakers so far this season.
