Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017 | 2 a.m.
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We’ve entered the fourth season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.
Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won back-to-back titles in the 2015-2016 and 2016-17 seasons, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015.
California plus-12.5 at North Carolina: $440 to win $400
Only three words are needed to describe the reason for this play — too many points. North Carolina is up against too many unknowns to lay this many points against any decent power-five conference opponents.
And despite what you may have heard, California is a decent power-five opponent. Reports are strong on new quarterback Ross Bowers, a sophomore, and he has a couple valuable receiving weapons at his disposal in Demetrius Robinson and Melquise Stovall.
The Golden Bears will be able to score, and they’re defense is going to be improved. There’s almost no way their defense couldn’t get better after being one of the worst in the nation last year, but it might make an even more dramatic leap with new coach Justin Wilcox a specialist in remaking stop units.
Wilcox had successful stints as defensive coordinator at schools all over the country before landing the California job this offseason. The coaching situation for North Carolina’s defense is more tenuous.
Coordinator Gene Chizik, who had transformed the Tar Heels over the last two years, surprisingly stepped down in the offseason and handed duties off to his top lieutenant, John Papuchis. These automatic successor appointments have a history of failing.
On offense, North Carolina loses all of its stars. LSU transfer Brandon Harris is the favorite to win a three-man quarterback competition, and anyone who has watched the Tigers over the last few years knows that’s no reason for excitement.
North Carolina should still win the game, just not by this much.
Current Standings: Granger (5-6, $11,095), Keefer (6-4-1, $10,785), Grimala (2-1, $10,595), Brewer (6-6, $9,160)
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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