North Carolina at Duke college basketball odds, picks and best bets
The North Carolina Tar Heels (13-17, 6-13 in the ACC) visit their Atlantic Coast Conference rival, the Duke Blue Devils (24-6, 14-5 in the ACC), Saturday for a 6 p.m. ET tip-off at the Cameron Indoor Stadium. We analyze the North Carolina-Duke odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.
North Carolina at Duke: Three things you need to know
- North Carolina is playing its best basketball of the season. The Tar Heels are on a three-game winning streak (all against ACC competition) following a seven-game losing streak. Duke has been struggling lately losing two of its last three games.
- North Carolina lost a heartbreaker, 98-96, in the first game this season against Duke thanks toWendell Moore Jr.'sbuzzer-beating putback in overtime.
- Duke got revenge against North Carolina State in its previous game, 88-69 on March 2, after the Wolfpack upset the Blue Devils on NC State's home floor.
North Carolina at Duke: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access Paste BN Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Duke 78, North Carolina 70
Moneyline (ML)
North Carolina (+475) out-rebounded and shot better from the field than Duke -667 in their first meeting. The Tar Heels' major flaw in that game was committing 18 turnovers to the Blue Devils' 11. Both teams are stacked with well-recruited talent. The key matchups of Duke's PGTre Jonesand CVernon Carey Jr.versus North Carolina's PGCole Anthonyand PFGarrison Brookswere essentially draws. It's hard to fathom the Tar Heels scoring an upset in Duke after blowing a double-digit lead in their own home. We certainly aren't spending the exorbitant Duke moneyline price.PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.
Against the Spread (ATS)
North Carolina +11.5 (-125)have covered five consecutive games, and six out of seven, against Duke -11.5 (+105). Plus Duke has been struggling lately losing two of its last three games and are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games. The Tar Heels get up for tough teams on the road-they are 6-4 ATS versus winning teams. Also, Duke is 1-3 ATS when laying 10-12 points.
I LIKE NORTH CAROLINA +11.5 (-125).
Over/Under (O/U)
The last North Carolina-Duke game went Over the projected total, snapping a six-game Under streak. I think Saturday's game will go Under, but it's only a slight LEAN toward UNDER 152.5 (-110). It's only a lean though because Duke has a 21-9 Over/Under record on the season, and both the Tar Heels and Blue Devils went Over the projected total in five of their previous six games.
Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet atBetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
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