North Carolina vs. TCU Player Props: Best Bets for College Football Week 0
The college football season and year two of the Bill Belichick era at North Carolina begin with a neutral-site Week 0 matchup in Dublin against TCU as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. My North Carolina vs. TCU player props include the top play for each team's starting quarterback.
I also find great value in a touchdown prop for one of the team's returning stalwart running backs to round out my college football Week 0 predictions. Kickoff from Aviva Stadium is set for noon ET on Saturday (ESPN/Disney+), and TCU is a 9.5-point betting favorite.
🏈 North Carolina vs. TCU player prop picks: Week 0
See the latest college football odds and our college football picks for Week 0.
| Player | Prop bet | Bet size |
|---|---|---|
| Jaden Craig, QB, TCU | Under 29.5 pass attempts (-120 via bet365) | 1 unit to win 0.83 units |
| Billy Edwards Jr., QB, UNC | Longest pass completion Under 36.5 yards (-115 via bet365) | 1 unit to win 0.87 units |
| Jeremy Payne, RB, TCU | Anytime first half touchdown scorer (+110 via DraftKings) | 1 unit to win 1.1 units |
Total wagered: 3 units | Max profit: +2.8 units
💰 North Carolina vs. TCU best player prop bet
Shop the best college football player prop odds for every available market.
Jaden Craig, QB, TCU: Under 29.5 pass attempts (-120 via bet365)
Jaden Craig has the difficult task of replacing Josh Hoover, a quarterback who threw for the most yards in FBS over the last two seasons. At Harvard, Craig set single-season program records for completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. But a matchup against a power conference team is a difficult introduction to the FBS level.
The Horned Frogs enter the season with a veteran offensive line, bolstered by the additions of Jaheim Buchanon and Noah McKinney. I expect a commitment to the running game, with game script playing a role in a conservative passing attack.
🔬 SBR EDGE - The stingy Tar Heels defense
North Carolina's defense allowed 294 points last season, its fewest since 2009. Therefore, it should be difficult for TCU to sustain drives often, especially when breaking in a new quarterback.
🔥 More North Carolina vs. TCU player prop picks
Billy Edwards Jr., QB, UNC: Longest pass completion Under 36.5 yards (-115 via bet365)
TCU’s run defense (ranked 19th in yards allowed per carry without sacks) was much better than its pass defense (109th in yards allowed per dropback) in limiting explosives. But six of seven defensive linemen return to improve its pass rush, which should get even better with transfers from Texas Tech (Cheta Ofili) and Western Kentucky (Koron Hayward) who each had great pressure rates.
In Edwards Jr.’s last six games as a full-time starter at Maryland in 2024, he cleared this projected total once. His ceiling for big plays is lowered given his O/U of 170.5 passing yards.
Jeremy Payne, RB, TCU: First half anytime touchdown scorer (+110 via DraftKings)
Jeremy Payne had one game with double-digit carries through TCU’s first eight games last season. But once he dominated the backfield touches over the last two regular season games and the bowl game, he averaged 116.7 rushing yards and 36.3 receiving yards, and scored four total touchdowns.
In last year’s game against North Carolina, Payne had the fifth-highest PFF grade of any Horned Frogs offensive player (min. 10 snaps) despite being in a backup role. I expect him to get much more than 10 total touches that he had in this matchup last year.
📺 How to watch North Carolina vs. TCU: Week 0
- Date: Saturday, August 29
- Kickoff: noon ET
- Location: Aviva Stadium (Dublin)
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: Disney+
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