Charlotte football vs. UNC first look: Betting odds, key matchup, player to watch
Charlotte football hits the road for the first time this year.
There was an energetic atmosphere and sold-out crowd inside Jerry Richardson Stadium for the Charlotte 49ers’ season opener, but the new-look Niners couldn’t hang with James Madison as their opponent pulled away in the second half of a 30-7 loss on Saturday night.
Their schedule doesn’t exactly get any easier this week.
Charlotte travels to Chapel Hill for the program’s first meeting with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Kenan Stadium, second-year head coach Biff Poggi’s team will go up against quarterback Connor Harrell, who started for UNC in last year’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
“I know this doesn’t sound right, but there are losses where you say, ‘We got beat by a better team,’ and then there are losses when you say, ‘Holy smokes,’” Poggi told reporters on Saturday. “To me, (the loss to JMU) was ‘holy smokes.’ And that falls directly on me.
“Chapel Hill will be different, because they will be highly talented at every position. They do a great job recruiting, they’re very deep. I expect us to go and play really, really, really well, but I don’t have a crystal ball.”
Key matchup: Can Charlotte’s defense stop QB Connor Harrell?
Harrell steps in behind center for North Carolina after starter Max Johnson sustained a season-ending leg injury.
Johnson, who previously played at LSU and Texas A&M, broke his right leg in the Tar Heels’ 19-17 victory against Minnesota to kick off the season. The injury brought Harrell — now a redshirt sophomore with a threat to both run and pass — into the game, and four field goals from kicker Noah Burnette lifted UNC over the Golden Gophers.
Charlotte’s defense limited James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett on Saturday, particularly throughout the first half. JMU’s only first-half score was a touchdown late in the second quarter, and it came on the very next play following a Charlotte pick.
Barnett finished 10-of-18 for 219 passing yards and added 89 yards on the ground. Harrell, also strong with his legs, may try to run the ball more as well, and that could provide a better matchup for the Niners’ defense.
Player to watch: Charlotte RB Cartevious Norton
Charlotte finally got to see some of its new offensive faces in action on Saturday.
Cartevious Norton, a Georgia native who transferred from Iowa State, got 11 carries in the opener. While Terron Kellman’s 76 yards — including a 41-yard rush — marked the best performance from a Niners tailback, the offense kept calling Norton’s number.
Norton, who made four starts for the Cyclones last year, was named the Big 12 co-newcomer of the week during his time in Ames. He has explosive speed, and Charlotte is working him into their run game.
Vegas betting odds
North Carolina is a 22-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook as of Monday morning. The over/under is set at 47.5 points, and Charlotte’s moneyline is at +1100 odds.
How to watch the Charlotte 49ers in Chapel Hill
Matchup: Charlotte 49ers (0-1) at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0)
TV: ACC Network
Streaming: ESPN.com
Radio: ESPN 730
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Place: Kenan Memorial Stadium, University of North Carolina
