Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: North Carolina Tar Heels (7-5) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (6-6)

Date: Thursday, December 30th, 2010

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Time: 6:40 p.m. EST

Right after the Pinstripe Bowl, the Music City Bowl kicks off between North Carolina and Tennessee. Expect LP Field to sell out since Tennessee dropped North Carolina for an easier non-BCS school on its schedule for the next two seasons. Derek Dooley has had a rough ride in his first year coaching Tennessee. The Volunteers lost six of their first eight games, but won the final four to become bowl eligible. The success came when junior Louisville transfer Matt Simms was replaced with freshman Tyler Bray at quarterback. Bray threw for 12 touchdowns in four games. The whole team got back on track during that span, as junior running back Tauren Poole averaged 91.5 yards and scored five of his 11 rushing touchdowns.

UNC had a rough season as well. Four players were declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA at the beginning of the season, including star senior defensive tackle Marvin Austin. It stemmed from an academic scandal where players had a tutor write their papers for them. A defense that returned nine starters was expected to compete in the ACC, but the suspensions weakened the team to fourth in the conference at 338.5 yards allowed per game. The three previous bowl appearances for the Tar Heels were in Charlotte in the Meineke Bowl. Senior quarterback T.J. Yates was seventh in the FBS with a 67.7 completion percentage.

My Pick: The bets are going with the underdog Tennessee on this one and I can see why. North Carolina came apart at the seams before the season started, but still managed to finish above .500. But, Tennessee has been playing well lately and will do enough to win this game. I’m backing the Volunteers to win 27-21 in my online betting.

Money Line (odds provided by Party Bets)

North Carolina: 4/5

Tennessee: 21/20

Point Spread: North Carolina -1.5

Over/Under: 50