North Carolina 2023 Future Odds: National Championship, Conference, Regular Season Wins and Player Props

A national championship-winning head coach. A Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback. Experience on defense. Add it together and North Carolina has the makings of a team that could contend with college football’s elite in 2023. But will it? Read on as we break down some key 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels stats in our season outlook.

At A Glance

All Eyes on Maye

North Carolina has what no other team in the country has: Drake Maye. The sophomore quarterback is poised for big things after a standout season in which he threw for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns. The Tar Heels went 9-5, made the ACC Championship Game and appeared in the Holiday Bowl, where they lost 28-27 to Oregon.

The Tar Heels have the makings of a preseason Top 25 team, one that should pose a serious threat to ACC favorites Clemson and Florida State. Needing to upgrade the talent around Maye, head coach Mack Brown brought in transfer receivers Nate McCollum (Georgia Tech) and Devontez Walker (Kent State), in addition to a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey.

The defense is still a bit suspect — they allowed an ACC-worst 30.7 points per game in 2022 — but they do return eight starters. Experience could be key on that side of the ball. Regardless, expect Maye, a +1400 Heisman pick, to put up big 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels stats.

National Championship Odds: Good, but Not Good Enough

The Tar Heels don’t really stand a chance of crashing the College Football Playoff and making the national championship game. Right? Well, probably not. Most NCAAF expert picks will rightfully focus on Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan, among others.

The Tar Heels should be good, but odds are, they won’t be that good. Maye is a terrific prospect — he’s widely regarded as a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the second quarterback off the board behind USC’s Caleb Williams — but he can only do so much. Double-digit wins and a New Year’s Day bowl feels like the ceiling for the Tar Heels which, hey, is pretty, pretty good. Notably, their odds of winning the national championship are down to +10000 after opening at +8000.

Conference Odds: Hanging with the Big Boys

North Carolina was a +1500 longshot to win the ACC last season. However, thanks to Maye’s emergence, the Tar Heels beat projections and reached the conference championship. This time around, the expectations are significantly higher. At +650, the Tar Heels have the third-shortest odds on the board behind heavyweights Clemson and Florida State. A Nov. 18 trip to Death Valley looms large for the Tar Heels.

Regular Season Wins: Start Strong, Finish Stronger

After starting 9-1 in 2022, the Tar Heels stumbled against Georgia Tech and NC State during the regular season’s final two weeks, then were blown out by Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. Maye, in particular, struggled during that stretch, passing for just one touchdown and four interceptions.

North Carolina should fall between eight and nine wins again, assuming it takes cares of business against out-of-conference foes South Carolina, Appalachian State and Minnesota on the NCAAF schedule. The Tar Heels are currently favored by 1.5 points over the rival Gamecocks.

To Make Playoffs: Don’t Count on It — Yet

Despite Maye’s immense potential, the Tar Heels aren’t being given much of a chance to sneak into the College Football Playoff for first time. Last season, they cracked the top 15 of the CFP rankings before losing to lowly Georgia Tech in November.

For 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels stats, betting odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• LSU Tigers 2023 Future Odds: National Championship
• Assessing 2023 Oklahoma Sooners Stats: A Return to Form?
• Florida State 2023 Future Odds: National Championship, Conference, Regular Season Wins and Player Props
• Independent Win Total Odds: Notre Dame Eyes Return to NCAAF Playoff
• MWC Win Total Odds: Air Force and Boise State Battling for Supremacy