As the famous philosopher Baltasar Gracián once said, "Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose."
North Carolina is the David to Notre Dame's Goliath in this week's anticipated gridiron matchup. No one believes in the Tar Heels, but that could be a really good thing for Bill Belichick and his team.
The opening spread suggests this game is expected to be a blowout. However, the Tar Heels have a prime opportunity to use this as motivation as they look to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Clemson just before the bye week.
UNC has nothing to lose with the odds heavily stacked against them
The Tar Heels open as 21.5-point underdogs in their upcoming matchup against Notre Dame. For those who don't follow betting lines closely, that means the Fighting Irish are expected to win by more than three touchdowns when they visit Chapel Hill.
#UNC has opened as a 21.5-point underdog next weekend vs. Notre Dame.
— Noah Weiskopf (@NoahWeiskopf) September 27, 2026
That alone could serve as another advantage for the Tar Heels.
We discussed how the noon kickoff is perfect for UNC, since all their games so far this season have been in the same time slot. By now, the Tar Heels know the routine well, which could help as they prepare for their toughest test yet.
Notre Dame hasn't had that luxury.
On top of that, it's not always easy to be a heavy favorite. Sure, it's a credit to how good Notre Dame has been playing, but anything can happen on any given Saturday, especially in the chaotic world of college football.
Who's to say that UNC at least can't hang around and cover the spread?
To be fair, this UNC team may not be getting enough credit. Sure, their early-season schedule hasn't been the toughest, and it's easy to see the Clemson loss as brutal, but the Tar Heels have been competitive in each one. With a strong defense, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them give Notre Dame problems, which could keep this game low-scoring if all goes according to plan.
North Carolina comes into this game with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Tar Heels will be ready to prove the doubters wrong, with the motivation to come out and make a statement on their home field.
Let's face it: crazier things have happened before!
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