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North Carolina (2-3) at California (4-2)
- When: Oct 17 2025, 10:30 PM
- Where: California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA
- Where to watch: ESPN
- Last Meeting: California 24-17, September 1st, 2018
North Carolina vs California Preview & Prediction
Spread: California -10.5
Moneyline: California (-415)
Total: 48.0
North Carolina Tar Heels: Belichick’s College Chaos Tour
Bill Belichick coaching college football still feels like one of those AI-generated fever dreams gone wrong. Five games in, the experiment is going about as well as you’d expect, which is to say, not great. The Tar Heels are 2-3, and their offense has been about as potent as decaf coffee.
After a 38-10 meltdown against Clemson, Belichick has been dodging hotter questions than a freshman skipping midterms. The rumors of his firing? “Categorically false,” says the man who built an empire on monotone press conferences. The reality? If he drops another game by three touchdowns, he might be categorically gone.
North Carolina’s offense ranks dead last in the ACC, averaging fewer points than some high school track meets. Their passing attack, if you can call it that, looks allergic to forward progress. Quarterback Gio Lopez missed the Clemson game, and backup Max Johnson was asked to save the day, which went about as well as a TikTok cooking hack. Between them, the Tar Heels have as many interceptions as touchdown passes, and that’s never a good recipe against a defense like Cal’s.
Still, this is college football. Chaos happens. Maybe Belichick has one last dark magic game plan left in him a fake punt here, a 9-lineman blitz there, a halftime motivational speech involving laminated playbooks and steely glares. But unless UNC finds a pulse offensively, Berkeley might turn into another blowout destination on the Belichick roadshow.
California Golden Bears: Friday Night Lights and West Coast Swag
Cal started hot this season at 3-0, then cooled off like a Berkeley latte left out too long. Still, they’ve got everything lined up for a solid bounce-back game home crowd, primetime spotlight, and an opponent that looks allergic to the red zone.
Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has shown flashes of brilliance, tossing nine touchdowns, though his seven interceptions prove he’s got a gambler’s streak. Fortunately for Cal, North Carolina’s defense couldn’t pick off a text message right now. Running back Kendrick Raphael has been the real motor of this offense, grinding out 400+ yards with a bruising, reliable style that should feast against UNC’s front seven.
Coach Justin Wilcox summed it up best: “Friday night, national TV, big game, let’s see our best.” Translation? “Don’t screw this up, boys.”
The Golden Bears don’t need to be flashy. They just need to be competent, something the Tar Heels haven’t been able to claim lately. If Cal’s defense stays disciplined and Sagapolutele limits the risky throws, this one could get out of hand fast.
Prediction:
North Carolina has Belichick, pride, and problems. Cal has momentum, depth, and a home crowd that smells blood. Expect a few Belichick grimaces and maybe a headset spike for the highlight reel.
Verdict: The Golden Bears cover comfortably, and the under hits like a Belichick death stare.
Final Score: California 31, North Carolina 13
Lean: California -10.5
Total: Under 48.0
- NCAA Football Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
