UConn vs North Carolina prediction & betting tips - Dec. 28 - Fenway Bowl

The UConn Huskies take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN.

UConn (8-4) ended the year with a 47-42 win over Massachusetts. North Carolina (6-6) ended the year with a 35-30 loss to NC State.

UConn vs North Carolina: Preview

UConn is a three-point underdog while the over/under is set at 52.5 points.

The Huskies went 4-1 down the stretch with its only loss to Syracuse. UConn has most of its players playing in the Fenway Bowl as the full list of players not playing is as follows:

• Tucker McDonald, QB (injury)
• Durell Robinson, RB (transfer portal)
• Brock Montgomery, WR (transfer portal)
• Jarvarius Sims, CB (transfer portal)
• Reggie Akles, CB (transfer portal)
• Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling, P (transfer portal)
• Malcolm Bell, CB (transfer portal)

The Huskies will start Joe Fagnano who threw for 1,480 yards, 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, while Cam Edwards leads the way with 756 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.

North Carolina, meanwhile, hired Bill Belichick as their new head coach, but he won't be coaching this game. With the coaching change, several players have hit the portal, and the full list is as follows:

• Conner Harrell, QB (transfer portal)
• Max Johnson, QB (injury)
• Caleb Hood, RB (transfer portal)
• Jordan Louie, RB (transfer portal)
• Omarion Hampton, RB (declared for NFL draft)
• Bryson Nesbit, TE (injury)
• Andrew Rosinski, OL (transfer portal)
• Eli Sutton, OL (transfer portal)
• Jakiah Leftwich, OL (transfer portal)
• Howard Sampson, OL (transfer portal)
• Zach Greenberg, OL (transfer portal)
• Travis Shaw, DL (transfer portal)
• Liam Boyd, K (injury)
• Noah Burnette, K (transfer portal)

The Tar Heels will be starting Jacolby Criswell who threw for 2,452 yards, 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. However, starting running back Omarion Hampton, who declared for the NFL draft, won't play in the Bowl game which is a big loss to UNC's offense.

This should be a competitive game, but losing Hampton is a massive deal to the Tar Heels. UNC will have a hard time rushing the football against the Huskies defense.

UConn, meanwhile, should be able to pass the ball well against the Tar Heels defense. Fagnano has played well this season, while Edwards has also rushed the ball effectively.

The Huskies will be able to get a big win here to end the season on a high note.

Prediction: UConn 27, UNC 24

UConn vs North Carolina: Preview

Tip 1: UConn ML (+124)

Tip 2: UConn +3 (-108)

Tip 3: Under 52.5 points (-108)