Capital One Orange Bowl 2021 – #5 Texas A&M Aggies vs #13 North Carolina Tar Heels

Our Texas A&M vs North Carolina pick 2021 for the Capital One Orange Bowl is the last of four bowl games being played on the day after New Year’s Day. This final game features the #5 Texas A&M Aggies vs #13 North Carolina Tar Heels. Other games to bet on today include the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (12 pm ET), Outback Bowl (12:30 pm ET), and PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (4 pm ET). The final game of the NCAA football season will feature the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide and the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes for the National Championship. It will be played on Monday, January 11.

The #5 Texas A&M Aggies, who finished second in the SEC – West, recorded eight wins and one loss. Their overall mark was 6-1. In their last five games, the Aggies went 5-0. The #13 North Carolina Tar Heels finished fourth in the ACC. They posted a 7-3 conference mark and 8-3 overall record. Over their last five games, North Carolina went 4-1. They ended the season with a 62-26 win over #10 Miami.

The Tar Heels are the underdog at +9.0 (-110), while the Aggies are the favorite at -7.5 (-110). In terms of total betting, the best over for this contest is 65.0 (-108), while the under can be found at 65.5 (-110).

The Capital One Orange Bowl will be played on Saturday, January 2. The kickoff will be at 8:00 pm ET with the game being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. The weather is predicted to be mostly cloudy with a temperature of 74-degrees. Probability of precipitation is 7% and winds will be 6 mph from the SSE.

Texas A&M vs North Carolina Pick 2021 – Statistics

Our Texas A&M vs North Carolina pick 2021 observes that the Tar Heels are averaging 43.0 PPG, while the Aggies are putting up 31.9. Consequently, North Carolina is +11.1 on offense. However, Texas A&M is allowing opponents 21.1 PPG. On the other hand, the Tar Heels are permitting 28.4 PPG. Subsequently, the better Aggie defense whittles away at North Carolina’s advantage. In the end, the over PF/PA differential gives NC an edge of +3.8.

Capital One Orange Bowl – Offense and Defense

The full Aggie team has opted in for this bowl game. However, North Carolina sees four major players opt out. North Carolina has an explosive offense, but they are lacking some key ingredients. Texas A&M possess a solid D, and they certainly put a fine offense on the field. The Tar Heels have some holes in their defense.

Aggies and Tar Heels – Offenses

Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond, who completed 63.5% of his passes, threw 19 TD passes and three picks. He’s been sacked four times. Additionally, Mond rushed for three scores. RBs Isaiah Spiller and Ainias Smith are the top rushers on the team. Spiller had 177 rushes, 986 yards, and seven scores. Smith, who had 49 carries, ran for 293 yards and four TDs. Additionally, Smith also caught 37 passes for 439 yards and six scores. TE Jalen Wydermyer tops all pass catchers with 45 receptions and 502 yards. He’s crossed the goal line six times. This is a fine offense.

North Carolina has seen three offensive stand outs opt out of the game. Included are leading rusher Michael Carter and top receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome. The three are responsible for 22 TDs. Still, Tar Heels’ RB Javonte Williams comes to this game with 19 rushing TDs and three receiving scores. QB Sam Howell, who thrown for over 3,300 yards, has tossed 27 touchdown passes. He’s rushed for five more. Howell has been sacked 29 times and tossed a half-dozen picks.

Texas A&M vs North Carolina Pick 2021 – Defenses

The Aggie defense has accumulated 24 sacks, nine INTs, and 31 PD. They scored one pick six and forced and recovered four fumbles. DL Bobby Brown III has 5.5 sacks. LB Buddy Johnson is a top performer. Hence, he has accumulated 37 solo and 76 total tackles, three PD, one pick, and one TD. Plus, DB Leon O’Neal Jr. has grabbed two picks and defended three passes.

The Tar Heels have recorded 33 sacks, eight INTs, and 38 passes defended. In addition, the unit has forced seven fumbles and recovered three. On defense, LB Chazz Surratt, who leads the Tar Heels in sacks (6.0), solo tackles (49), and total tackles (91), has opted out. That’s a big loss. However, DL Tomari Fox has recorded four sacks. LB Jeremiah Gemmel is the second leading tackler with 74 total tackles. He posted 2.5 sacks, four PD, and one INT.

Texas A&M vs North Carolina Pick 2021 – Final Word

Our Texas A&M vs North Carolina pick 2021 projects that this game will be very competitive. The Tar Heels have seen four major players opt out. That’s a concern. Especially concerning are the losses on offense. For these reasons, we’re going with the Aggies. After all, they do have a fine D and a productive offense. In addition to taking the Texas A&M Aggies at -7.5 (-110), we are going with the over at 64.0.

Capital One Orange Bowl 2021 – Summary

Point Spread – Texas A&M Aggies at -7.5 (-110)
Totals – Over 64.0 (-102)