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The Florida A&M Rattlers will try to beat a FBS program for the first time in more than 40 years when they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the teams' season opener on Saturday at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. The last time the Rattlers beat an FBS team (then known as Division I-A) came in October 1979 when they knocked off Miami and coach Howard Schnellenberger, 16-13, in Tallahassee. A&M enters this season picked to finish second in the East Division of the SWAC, but it will be without approximately 20 players due to reported eligibility issues, which has moved the spread even further in favor of UNC. 

Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. The Tar Heels are 45-point favorites in the latest North Carolina vs. Florida A&M odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 55.5. Before making any Florida A&M vs. North Carolina picks or college football predictions, you need to see what SportsLine football expert Emory Hunt Jr. has to say.

Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007, and a former running back for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. He knows the game from a player's perspective.

In addition, he has his finger on the pulse of North Carolina. He is 14-5-1 (+853) in his last 20 against-the-spread picks in games involving the Tar Heels. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, Hunt has zeroed in on UNC vs. FAMU and just locked in his picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Hunt's picks. Now, here are several college football odds and betting lines for FAMU vs. UNC:

  • North Carolina vs. FAMU spread: Tar Heels -45 
  • North Carolina vs. FAMU over/under: 55.5 points 
  • North Carolina vs. FAMU picks: See picks here.

Why North Carolina can cover

North Carolina has a playmaking corner in Tony Grimes. A 6-foot junior from Virginia Beach, Grimes quickly established himself as one of the most talented corners in the conference in 2020 when he should've still been a senior in high school. Last season he started all 13 games for the Tar Heels, earning honorable mention all-ACC honors.

In addition, North Carolina has featured a big-play offense under offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Since 2019 the Tar Heels lead the ACC in plays of 20-plus yards (257), 30-plus yards (124), 40-plus yards (66) and 50-plus yards (38). Last season Carolina led the conference with eight plays of 60 or more yards, 13 plays of 50-plus yards, 22 plays of 40-plus yards and 42 plays of 30-plus yards.

Why FAMU can cover

A&M has arguably the best receiver in the conference in Xavier Smith. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver from Haines City, Fla., led the Rattlers last season in both receptions (64) and receiving yards (713) despite missing one game. In a game at South Florida, he set a career-high with 15 catches. Smith enters the 2022 season as a member of the preseason All-SWAC first-team offense.

In addition, A&M faces a North Carolina team that may not be completely focused on the Rattlers. After playing A&M, the Tar Heels play at Appalachian State in a much-hyped in-state showdown on Sept. 3. One week after that, they play at Auburn.

How to make North Carolina vs. FAMU picks

Hunt has analyzed this matchup and while he's leaning Over on the point total, he has also discovered a crucial x-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.

Who covers in FAMU vs. North Carolina? And what crucial x-factor causes one side of the spread to hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump all over Saturday, all from the football expert who is 14-5-1 in his last 20 against-the-spread picks in games involving the Tar Heels, and find out.