North Carolina vs UConn Picks and Predictions for Saturday, November 7, 2026
North Carolina heads to East Hartford on Saturday for a noon ET kickoff against UConn at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. CBSSN has the broadcast. The Tar Heels (4-4, 2-3 ACC, tied for 9th) lost 38-35 to Miami last Saturday, their second straight narrow defeat. UConn (4-4, FBS Independent) fell 35-26 at Air Force after winning two in a row. Both teams need a better finish to the season. For more matchups, browse our free college football picks.
North Carolina Trying to Finish Games
Miami escaped Chapel Hill with a 38-35 victory last weekend. North Carolina came up short again, with that loss following a 31-30 overtime setback against Syracuse. Those two results sting. The Tar Heels had beaten Duke and Pittsburgh before the skid, so the recent losses haven't been about an inability to compete. They're about finding enough stops when the score tightens.
Billy Edwards Jr. has thrown for 1,872 yards and 15 touchdowns against five interceptions. Jordan Shipp leads the receiving group with 587 yards, while tight end Jelani Thurman has six touchdown catches. On the ground, Benjamin Hall has 296 yards, and Demon June has scored eight rushing touchdowns. Xavier Lewis has seven sacks, giving North Carolina someone who can disrupt UConn's passing attack.
Injuries: Jordan Washington and Jake Warren are out. C. Warren and K. Chapman are questionable.
UConn Looking for a Home Response
Air Force spoiled UConn's momentum Saturday, beating the Huskies 35-26 and ending their two-game winning streak. UConn had scored 35 against UMass the week before, but the defense couldn't keep Air Force in check. The Huskies have also dropped close contests against Syracuse and Miami (Ohio). They're dangerous enough to score with North Carolina, though stopping the Tar Heels is another matter.
Kalieb Osborne has produced 1,857 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He's also rushed for 330 yards and seven scores. Cyncir Bowers leads UConn with 571 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Shamar Porter has 308 receiving yards and three scores. On defense, John Lista owns 58 tackles, while K'Von Sherman has 3.5 sacks. North Carolina's passing game will challenge that group.
Injuries: Javon Brown is out. Jake Merklinger is questionable.
Key To The Game
North Carolina's pass rush meets a quarterback who's been productive both throwing and running. Osborne has accounted for seven rushing touchdowns, so containing him matters. But UConn must also handle Edwards and a passing attack that has pushed two recent opponents into close finishes.
North Carolina vs UConn Game Pick
- North Carolina Tar Heels -7
North Carolina is coming off two painful losses, but both games were decided by a combined four points. That's different from being overwhelmed. Edwards has thrown 15 touchdown passes, and the Tar Heels have enough receiving talent to challenge UConn downfield. The Huskies can answer through Osborne, particularly when he escapes pressure, but their 35-26 loss to Air Force raises questions about how many stops they'll manage. Lewis gives North Carolina a chance to disrupt that passing attack, too. Seven points isn't a small number on the road, yet I expect the Tar Heels to cover.
North Carolina vs UConn Over/Under Pick
- Over 54.5
UConn has scored at least 26 points in four consecutive games, and North Carolina just traded punches with Miami in a 38-35 defeat. Neither offense needs much encouragement to attack. Edwards has 15 touchdown passes, while Osborne has thrown 14 and added seven more scores on the ground. UConn's defense conceded 35 to Air Force, and North Carolina allowed 38 last weekend. That's a rough combination for anyone expecting a quiet afternoon. Both quarterbacks have shown they can produce, and one or two quick drives could send this past 54.5. I'll take the over.