Radford vs. North Carolina odds, picks and predictions
The Radford Highlanders face the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean E. Smith Center on Monday at 7 p.m. ET (ACC Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook lines around the Radford vs. North Carolina odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
North Carolina, ranked No. 21 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll, looks to start their season on the right foot. The Tar Heels are coming off of a disappointing 2022-23 season in which they missed the NCAA Tournament for the 1st since 2010. They had only 2 wins over ranked teams and finished 20-13, 11-9 in the ACC.
The Tar Heels will be led by preseason All-American F Armando Bacot, a 5th year senior. He averaged a doube-double last season with 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. The Tar Heels also bring back senior G RJ Davis and his 16.1 points per game and team-leading 3.2 assists per game.
Three new players to watch this season are highly touted freshman point guard Elliott Cadeau and 2 transfers from inside the ACC. F Jae'Lyn Withers averaged 25 minutes and 8.9 points per game for Louisville last season while G Cormac Ryan played 34 minutes and produced 12.9 points per game for Notre Dame.
The Radford Highlanders won 21 games last season, including 2 wins at the College Basketball Invitational. They bring back 2 1st-team all-Big South Conference players in G Bryan Antoine and G DaQuan Smith. They were picked to finished 2nd behind UNC-Asheville in the Big South Conference in the league's preseason poll.
Radford coach Darris Nichols did a great job bringing in extra talent through the transfer portal. F Josiah Harris from St. Francis Brooklyn and F TJ NeSmith from Division II Lenoir-Rhyne bring experience and production to the court for the Highlanders. They also brought in top-75 rated JUCO transfer G Truth Harris from Indian Hills Community College.
The Tar Heels are 2-0 all-time against the Highlanders. Their last meeting was in 2016 and North Carolina had a decisive 95-50 victory.
- Rankings courtesy of the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
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Radford at North Carolina odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:02 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Radford +1120 (bet $100 to win $1120) | North Carolina -3000 (bet $3000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Radford +18.5 (-110) | North Carolina -18.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -118 | U: -108)
Radford at North Carolina picks and predictions
Prediction
North Carolina 86, Radford 62
Moneyline
AVOID.
As confident as I am that the Tar Heels will win this game, no way you should ever put $3000 down to win $100 back. Look to the spread for a smarter bet.
Against the spread
BET NORTH CAROLINA -18.5 (-110).
I typically like to target senior led mid-major programs in these early season games against Power 5 schools because all their talent are still trying to gel together but that's not the case here. North Carolina has 2 strong senior leaders coming back along with 2 other experienced transfers as well.
I have seen in-person multiple times what UNC does against these mid-majors coming into the Dean Dome. It usually does not end well. The last time the Tar Heels lost to a mid-major at home was in 2017 to Wofford.
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Over/Under
PASS.
My general strategy early in the season is to lean to the Under because teams are still getting into the flow with players getting used to their roles and minutes being played. My lean is the Over in this game, but not enough to actually put a bet down on it.
I feel like the Highlanders can do their part to get to this Over. Radford averaged 70 points per game last year and the Tar Heels put up just over 76.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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