4* INDEPENDENCE BOWL WINNER

North Carolina vs. Missouri, 12/26/2011 17:00 EDT, Score: 24 - 41

Point Spread: +5/-103 North Carolina

Sportsbook: 5Dimes

Result: Loss

The Tar Heels should not be getting 5-points in this matchup. Missouri is a solid team, but they play in a Big 12 conference where few teams play defense. Texas has the best defense in that conference, and they held Missouri to just 17 points.

While Missouri won that game 17-5, North Carolina has the playmakers on offense to put up points. Freshman running back Giovani Bernard has rushed for a freshman-record 1,222 yards, wide out Dwight Jones had 79 catches for 1,119 yards, and sophomore quarterback Bryn Renner has thrown for 2,769 yards with 23 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

North Carolina is 19-9 ATS in their last 28 games as an underdog, while Missouri is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in December and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0. BET THE TAR HEELS +5