UC Riverside at North Carolina odds, picks and predictions
The No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels (2-0) welcome the UC Riverside Highlanders (1-2) to the Dean Smith Center Friday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET (ACC Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the UC Riverside vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
North Carolina is No. 18 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll and is coming off a 90-68 win over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks Sunday. The Tar Heels failed to cover as a 24-point favorite and are 0-2 against the spread (ATS) this season. They are 1-1 O/U. F Armando Bacot is averaging a team-high 23.5 points per game (PPG) and shooting 60% from the field.
UC Riverside lost 76-65 to the Portland Pilots Sunday, failing to cover as an 8-point underdog. The Highlanders are 0-2 ATS this season but do have a 76-69 win over the UC Merced Bobcats. Their most notable game was an 82-53 loss to the Utah Utes in which they failed to cover as a 16.5-point underdog. G Barrington Hargress leads the team, averaging 12.3 points per game.
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UC Riverside 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 7:33 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UC Riverside +1800 (bet $100 to win $1,800) | North Carolina -8000 (bet $8,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UC Riverside +22.5 (-118) | North Carolina -22.5 (-104)
- Over/Under (O/U): 149.5 (O: -113 | U: -113)
UC Riverside at North Carolina picks and predictions
Prediction
North Carolina 84, UC Riverside 54
Moneyline
PASS.
There's no value either way here. Keep UNC out of any moneyline parlay options too.
Against the spread
BET NORTH CAROLINA -22.5 (-104).
North Carolina on the spread is a strong play though, and it is mainly because of the struggles of UC Riverside. The Highlanders are 0-2 ATS and lost to its lone Power 5 opponent by 29. North Carolina is better than Utah and should be able to give a similar performance.
UNC has wins of 16 and 22, just barely not covering in both games as 18.5- and 24-point favorites. It has a veteran in Bacot who should be able to get easy points on a slower opponent frequently. Expect UNC to dominate.
Take NORTH CAROLINA -22.5 (-104).
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Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 149.5 (-113).
UNC has scored 85 or more in both games while having yet to allow more than 70. The total may also depend on the struggles of UC Riverside. It scored 53 on Utah and has gone Under in both its games that closed with a total this season.
While UC Riverside may not have the frontcourt speed to match Bacot, it does have a pair of 6-foot-11 centers who should be able to keep him off the glass. Expect a slow-paced game and take UNDER 149.5 (-113).
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